Funeral Arrangements Set for Brad Smith

Friends, family and customers of Brad Smith can reminisce about happier times Monday evening, prior to the late mechanic's funeral Tuesday. 

A short remembrance will be held on Aug. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at  in Hatboro. 

A greeting ceremony is planned for 10 a.m. Aug. 7 at Supplee Presbyterian Church, 855 E. Welsh Road in Maple Glen. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. 

Smith, of Horsham, a long-time mechanic and the owner of father-son business, on Easton Road in Horsham, died over the weekend after treading in knee-deep water with his 7-year-old daughter in North Wildwood, N.J.

Smith, as well as his daughter and another father and daughter, were pulled out to sea by the undertow, though the other man and his daughter were able to make their way back to shore. A man on a personal watercraft rescued Smith's daughter. 

early Monday morning after he had been . He was 54. 

News of Smith's death brought forth an outpouring of fond memories, thoughtful words and condolences from some of his long-time customers, colleagues, friends, and family, who shared in dozens of comments on Patch how the father and grandfather had touched their lives. 

"I worked with Brad at his earlier location "Turnpike Texaco" in the late 1980's. He was like a big brother to me. I remember him chasing me across the parking lot before catching up to me and body slamming me on top of one of the gas pumps-lol," Eric Jahn . "He was a funny guy who always made me laugh and always went out of his way to help people he liked."

Only hours after Smith's body was recovered, his son, Kyle, and son-in-law Jared had returned to the auto repair shop that Smith had run with Kyle. Smith's family has said they intend to keep the business open.

"There are just waves of people he touched coming in to send their respects," Jared wrote in an e-mail to Patch. "He was the best man and father and grandfather any of us have ever known."

Click here to read Brad Smith's obituary on Schneider Funeral Home's Web site.