Byron and Donnabelle Smoker Scholarship

Byron and Donnabelle (Smith) Smoker both grew up in the Goshen area — Byron in New Paris and Donnabelle in Nappanee. Although they lived in different towns, they met while students at New Paris High School. Donnabelle’s father had enrolled her there — though he couldn’t afford to — because he thought Nappanee High School was too worldly.

After graduating from high school Byron (whom everyone calls Barney) went to work in the family business, a lumber company his grandfather had begun in 1921. Among its clients was the Studebaker company in South Bend, for whom they finished wagon parts.

During the depression the company found itself with excess lumber, so they decided to make boats with it. When they discovered that the mail order oars and paddles sold with the boats were of poor quality, they decided to make their own. Soon the oar and paddle business outstripped the boat-building business. Two of their largest buyers were Sears and Montgomery Ward. Eventually they stopped building boats altogether and concentrated on oars and paddles. From 1948 to 1962 the company was also involved in the manufacture of recreational vehicles. The present day company, Smokercraft, has returned to building recreational boats.

In 1995 the Smokers celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They have three children: Ann Smoker Schrock, Douglas, and Nancy Smoker I-Tuber. They attend the New Paris Missionary Church. Douglas has continued with the family business, making four generations of Smokers involved with the company.

In addition to her responsibilities at home, Donnabelle managed rental houses in New Paris and worked for a number of years for the auditor’s office. Barney built the houses in the evenings and on weekends as their retirement program.

The Smokers became involved with Goshen College through their daughter Nancy who graduated in 1977. She had started college at a large state university, but after four days decided it wasn’t for her. She transferred to GC and had a wonderful experience.

Because the Smokers appreciate the Christian emphasis of GC, what the college stands for and the kind of students it attracts, they have donated one of their houses to the college. Income from the sale of the house will endow several honors scholarships.