Carroll L. “Skip” Smyser passed away peacefully on Friday, December 27, 2024, at York Hospital.

Born in York, Pennsylvania on May 4, 1934, he was the son of the late Dorothy Pauline (Blockinger) Smyser and Daniel Swiler Smyser.

Skip was devoted to his wife of sixty-six years, Elaine Ruth (Faust) Smyser. She was the love of his life. Their first date was at the York Fair in 1952. They were married on June 26, 1954.

Skip graduated from William Penn Senior High School in 1952. In his senior year he was part of the industrial program, going to school while working as a welder at Borg-Warner. After graduation he joined the Navy, serving from 1952-1956, three of those years on the battleship USS Iowa. After his service, he became an apprentice boilermaker at Allis-Chalmers. In 1959 he started in their nuclear division. 

But most of his professional career was spent as an application engineer in the hydroelectric division of Allis-Chalmers. Skip traveled the world, consulting on hydroelectric projects across the globe. He logged over a million miles in the air, travelling to China, Korea, Europe, every corner of the US where there was a dam with turbines, and spent a significant amount of time in Tokyo and Kobe, Japan. 

Elaine joined him on some of his work trips, about which he once wrote “I’ll never forget the times you joined me and turned dull business trips into loving times of togetherness.” 

He began an early retirement in 1982 after having a life-threatening stroke that drastically affected mobility on the right side of his body. After recovering, he spent his time wood-working, crafting furniture, and making duck decoys, each one painted and finished with exquisite detail, done by hand with a woodburner; and all done using his non-dominant hand. 

Skip was predeceased by his wife Elaine and their son Daniel. He is survived by four grandchildren: Chad Smyser, and his partner Thomas, Amy Cooper and her husband Jeremie, Jared Smyser and his wife Brittany, and Zachary Smyser; and by five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Harris and Alma Deisinger, and his brother Donald.

Skip deeply appreciated the relatives, friends and neighbors who stopped by, brought food, took out the garbage or cleaned up the flower beds. Your kindness meant more than you know. 

A memorial reception with time for shared remembrances will be held from 2:00-4:00 PM Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Kuhner Associates Funeral Directors, Inc., 863 South George Street, York.

In honor of his beloved wife, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater PA Chapter, 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100, Harrisburg PA 17110.