Robert Burns ‘Pete’ Smeltz, Jr.

Robert Burns ‘Pete’ Smeltz, Jr.

Robert Burns “Pete” Smeltz, Jr., passed away on May 10, 2026, at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa.

Pete was born on Oct. 3, 1952, in Harrisburg, Pa., the son of Robert Burns Smeltz, Sr. and Betty Jane (Shartzer) Smeltz.

He graduated from John Harris High School, Class of 1970, and went on to attend Harrisburg Area Community College.

Pete worked at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for 35 years, most notably as Maintenance Manager for Clinton County. He served two terms as Clinton County Commission Chairman.

Pete is the former president of the Sugar Valley Lions Club and SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative Board. He was a board member of the Salvation Army Lock Haven Corps.

He served as a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lock Haven, Valley of Williamsport Scottish Rite, Lafayette Masonic Lodge #199, Clinton County Historical Society, Clinton County Redevelopment Authority and Bald Eagle Valley Trail.

Pete was the recipient of numerous awards throughout his career. He occupied a leadership role at Tri County Church North Central and was a former elder at the Mill Hall Church of Christ.

Pete enjoyed fishing, volunteering and the Rails to Trails.

He and his wife, Debra, married on May 12, 1990, and were celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary. Together, they shared morning bike rides and traveled the country.

Pete was a husband, father, brother and uncle.

He is survived by his wife, Debra Smeltz, of Lock Haven; a son, Rob Smeltz, III, and his fiancee, Shelby Major, of Charlotte, N.C.; a daughter, Sarah (Smeltz) Budd, and her husband, Eric, of Lock Haven; and four sisters, Bobbie Green, and her husband, Dick, of Bethlehem, Pa., Bonnie Detweiler, and her husband, Jack, of Fishkill, N.Y., Tammy Boone, and her husband, Pat, of Milton, Vt., and Pam Wenner, and her husband, Dave, of Carlisle, Pa.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Celebration of Pete’s Life will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 6 p.m., at Tri County Church North Central, 205 Main St., Mill Hall, Pa.

Visitation will be from 3­-6 p.m., with the service honoring Pete beginning at 6 p.m. Pastor Casey Redmon will officiate.

Pete will be laid to rest at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Lock Haven, Pa.

Arrangements are under the direction of Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, LLC, 121 W. Main St., Lock Haven, Pa.

A scholarship will be established to honor Pete’s life and legacy, courtesy of The Keystone Central Foundation, for students of history and political science. Contributions to the scholarship fund can be made by check payable to The Keystone Central Foundation, PO Box 565, Lock Haven, PA 17745.

Memorial donations can be made to Tri County Church North Central, as well as the Salvation Army Lock Haven Corps, 119 E. Church St., Lock Haven, PA 17745. Please include Pete’s name on the memo line.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Tri County Church family, the Clinton County community and the kind staff at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

Pete says, “I was always blessed and didn’t always know it. Today is the first day of the rest of your life — make it count, do good, be joyful. God may or may not give you tomorrow.”

Thoughts and memories may be shared at the Gedon Funeral Homes Facebook page or at www.GedonFuneralHomes.com.