Howard Joseph Schmack, 79, of South Williamsport, passed away peacefully on Sept. 25, 2017, at his home.
 

He was born on Jan. 30,1938, in Williamsport. He was the son of the late Joseph Schliebener of Owego, N.Y.  He was preceded in death by his grandfather Howard Schmack and his grandmother Hattie Schmack, of Williamsport, who adopted him and his predeceased brother Clarence Schmack at a young age.

 

He attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Williamsport and then graduated from Father Flanagan’s Boys Home in Boys Town, Nebraska in 1956.

He served in the U.S. Army and shortly after, he met his future wife, RitaNaughton; they wed on April 22, 1964. At the time, he worked at the Muncy

Luminary and then for J. Fred Bangert Linotype Co.

 

In October 1967, hepurchased the business. In July 1968, he purchased Business Men’s Press Inc. and combined the two into one facility in Williamsport. He served in various leadership positions in the Jaycees, was a member of the Williamsport Rotary Club, served on the Lift 3 United Way Fund and a multitude of YMCA fundraisers. He helped annually with Wheel Club Christmas party, providing Christmas gifts for the community’s underprivileged children.
 

In 1972, he purchased Central Pennsylvania Packaging Supplies Company in Williamsport. The same year, he was elected president of the Williamsport Jaycees, served as chairman for the Lycoming County March of Dimes and organized the first walkathon ever held in Lycoming County, raising pledges of more than $10,000. In 1973, he was named the Outstanding Young Man of the Year by the Greater Williamsport Jaycees. In 1976, he began a new career with the Universal Investment Company of Harrisburg, where he served on the board of directors. In 1988, he was named regional chairman of communication for agriculture, a national nonprofit rural organization that offers scholarships to high school students in rural areas and monitors legislative activities on rural issues.

Throughout the 1990s, he worked as a salesman and finance manager at several area auto dealerships: Blaise Alexander Chevrolet, John Powell Chevrolet, Anchor Auto, Shirn’s and Breon. He was a life member of the Leroy O. Buck Post 7863 VFW and a member of the Saint Lawrence Catholic Church in South Williamsport. Upon retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his family and attending countless sporting events with them.

He founded “You Ride I Drive” limousine service. He was always an avid race fan. He was the advertising manager for the A.Y. Shilling race team at the Clinton County Raceway and a loyal Dale Earnhardt Sr. fan. He was a fixture in the bleachers clutching his own personal stat chart for his grandsons’ Hepburn-Lycoming and Mill Creek Little League games, Williamsport and Montoursville baseball games and Montoursville football games. His “favorite” granddaughter always counted on him being first in line to see her dance recitals and watch her cheer under the Friday Night Lights.

He was a dedicated Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts fan and loved the New YorkYankees, and anyone that was playing the Boston Red Sox.
 

He is survived by: his wife, Rita Schmack; son, Stuart Schmack and spouse, Laura, of Montoursville; daughter, Ann Marie Fullerton and spouse, Ronald, of Williamsport; and four grandchildren, Matthew Fullerton, of Williamsport, Derek Schmack and fiancée, Sara Felden, of Pittsburgh, Joseph Fullerton, of Williamsport, and Kristin Choate and spouse, Alex, of Bel Air, Md.; nephew Eric Schmack and spouse, Wanda, of Jarratt, Va.; and stepmother Margaret Schliebener, of Owego, N.Y.
 

Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, at Sanders Mortuary, 821 Diamond St., Williamsport, with a memorial service to immediately follow.
 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boys Town, Nebraska.