Keith S. Smith

Keith S. Smith, 62, of West Chester, passed away peacefully at home in Hospice Care after a brief battle with cancer. Born in West Chester to the late Gordon W. Smith and Marianne Smith (nee Fazzini) on February 7, 1962. He worked in the WC community as a locksmith for most of his life, owning and operating Smith’s Locksmiths on North Walnut Street for twenty years. After selling the business he continued to service his customers while working for the company that purchased his company and finally for The Flying Locksmiths of Greater Philadelphia/DeMarco Security. 

He was a 1980 graduate of WC East High School. He was an avid birdwatcher, a devoted Phillies and Eagles fan and a passionate collector of padlocks and pocket knives amassing quite the collection over his lifetime. 

Keith loved the West Chester community as a dedicated member/volunteer of many organizations. He was a Master Mason with WC Lodge #322, Past Grand Tall Cedar of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He was also a long-time member of the WC Elks, and the WC Fish & Game Assoc. He was a volunteer with 1st WC Fire Company and the Goshen Fire Company, where he served briefly on the board of directors, and as Vice President of the Goshen Country Fair and served as Sergeant, Lieutenant and as the Fire Police Chief. 

Earlier in his life as a Scout Leader he served as Cubmaster of Pack #122, and Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop #21, a member of the Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow Brotherhood, Woodbadge class NE-IV-124, Powderhorn, and completed SeaBadge training at the Coast Guard’s Menemsha Station in Martha’s Vineyard. Keith was a staffer on Chester County Council’s first ever Powderhorn training class for co-ed Venture Crew Scouts and was a “Ghost Staffer” on the first three National Youth Leader Training (NYLT) classes conducted in the United States. He also spent several years on Chester County Council’s training committee.

Keith loved history and this was most evident in his love of West Chester.  He was a self-taught local historian, primarily from reading every piece of written Chester County and WC history he could put his hands on, many volumes of which are in his personal library. He wrote and published five books. One on Historical Markers, three about how WC streets got their names, and his fifth a book about his father that he aptly called “My Pop the Cop.” He is particularly proud of his history posts and old photos he has contributed to Facebook. Above all of these things one of his greatest points of pride is serving on the board of directors of the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame, as their Secretary for the last fifteen years as well as serving on the board of directors of the Chadds Ford Historical Society also as their secretary.

Some words from a country song Keith would like you to ponder over… “GOD is Great!... Beer is good, and people are crazy…”

Keith was predeceased by his parents Gordon W. Smith and Marianne Smith (nee Fazzini) and his older brother Kevin G. Smith. He is survived by his wife Kathy Smith (Freney), his stepmother Esther Gay Smith (nee Staudenmayer) of Berwyn, and by three brothers Kenneth (Cathy Broadbelt) of Berwyn, Kirk of Thorndale, Kyle of West Chester and by two sons Kristopher F. Smith Sr. and Scott A. Smith (Chantele McMillan) of West Chester, as well as three grandsons Dominic Andrew Smith, Kristopher Francis Smith Jr., and Logan Gordon Smith. Twenty-three nieces and nephews also survive Uncle Keith. Tanner (Jessa Collins), Tristin (Sarah Rittenhouse), Matt, Andrew, Rachel (Smith), Michaela, Kolbe, Jack, Nick, (Freney) Katie Lawrence (Mike), Matt, Tommy (Emma Berger) , Emily, Julia, Caroline (Freney), Kieran Jani, Erin & Coleman Freney, Ryan Henry, Grace & Charlotte Wilkins, and Brendan & Claire Freney. He also had nine great nieces and nephews, Madeline, Rylan, Makaylin, Marilyn, Revlin, Rocklen, Wrenly (Smith) and John & Joey (Lawrence).

He further enjoyed target shooting at his family cabin, fishing, and spending time with friends. He also loved the time he shared with his two sons camping and Scouting. However, of all the things he has done in this lifetime being Pop-Pop and Uncle Keith have been the absolute best times of his existence. He adored teaching silly songs, reading, telling stories, poetry, and pumpkin carving, and most recently teaching the “I love you” head nod.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation on Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 North Church Street West Chester, PA 19380; followed by his Masonic Service at 8:00 pm and Words of Remembrance at 8:10 pm. Relatives and friends are also invited to his visitation on Friday, September 6, 2024 from 10:00 am - 10:45 am at SS. Simon & Jude Church; 8 Cavanaugh Court West Chester, PA 19382; followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:00 am.

Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery West Chester, PA.

Contributions may be made in Keith’s memory to Chadds Ford Historical Society 1736 Creek Road, Chadds Ford, 19317 and/or Richard B. Yoder Scholar-Athlete Award CCSHOF, P.O. Box 30, WC, PA 19381-003 and/or Goshen Fire Company 1320 Park Avenue, West Chester, PA 19380.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com