A brilliant red cardinal landed in the empty hallway of Parkersburg South High School on a sunny Saturday afternoon in May. The cardinal allowed the son and granddaughter of an amazing man to pick him up, gently stroke his feathers, and release him into the great outdoors where he flew away peacefully. This meaningful and heartwarming symbol of the cardinal’s visit serves as a gentle reminder that, in spirit, we are never far apart from those we love. The Cardinal Memorial Scholarship in Honor of Joe Smith was created from this encounter to celebrate the life of a truly wonderful person.
Joe Smith was that amazing man — intelligent, witty, loving, faithful, kind, and unforgettable. He was devoted to his wife, Sherry; his sons, Ryan and Zac; and his beautiful grandchildren, Nola and Jonah. He loved his family beyond measure. Growing up in Parkersburg, the son and brother in a loving family, Joe graduated from Parkersburg High School and Marshall University. He spent 37 years working for Wood County Schools as a teacher, school counselor, service personal facilitator/tester, and Director of the Caperton Center for Applied Technology. His career wasn’t just a job; it was a calling that allowed him to impact his community deeply and be present with his family.
Ryan shared, “My dad had the career he wanted that impacted the community but also allowed him to be home with family. He never thought of the Caperton Center as a stepping stone — it was what kept him here. It kept him home during summers and allowed him to leave work by 4:30 or 5 p.m. so he could come home and play catch with us. He was coaching sports teams, volunteering with church youth groups, tutoring disadvantaged students, counseling kids from troubled backgrounds. That was everything to him.”
Joe’s commitment to community extended beyond his work. He was involved in his church and local sports, never met a stranger, and always lived life to the fullest — enjoying company and conversation wherever he went.
When Joe passed away in February 2021 from COVID pneumonia at age 68, his family was unable to fully celebrate his life due to public health concerns. This made the creation of The Cardinal Memorial Scholarship all the more meaningful — a lasting tribute borne out of love, devotion, and a desire to honor his memory.
Approximately three months after Joe’s passing, Ryan and his daughter experienced a profound moment at Parkersburg South High School. They encountered a red cardinal that seemed to guide them through the hallways, leading them outside. Ryan remembers, “We gently picked him up, brushed his head, then watched him fly away. Too beautiful for words.” This encounter was interpreted as a sign from Joe, reinforced their decision to establish the scholarship in his honor.
Ryan also spoke about the importance of working with the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation (PACF) to ensure the scholarship would endure. “We got exactly what we wanted,” he said. “The student selected needed to be specific — studying education, attending a West Virginia college, displaying academic excellence, with a focus on community service. We didn’t hear a no. We heard, ‘We support everything, and we’re going to make this happen.”
Choosing to work with a community foundation, Ryan said, gave his family peace of mind that their wishes would be honored — now and for generations to come. “PACF is local, trusted, and we believe it will exist for the life of Parkersburg — unlike banks, which are bought and sold.”
As the relationship grew, Ryan began to understand the full scope of the foundation’s role in the region.
“I had no idea how wide-reaching the foundation’s work was. The scholarships are just one piece of the puzzle. The PACF is truly helping build the community at every level,” he said. “And that makes me feel even better about choosing to hold our scholarship with the foundation — it’s not just a name on a check. It’s people who care, who know this town, and who want to help.”
He also shared a unique connection that further anchored the family’s trust in the foundation: “My mom, Sherry, was a school guidance counselor and worked closely with the foundation’s staff to connect Wood County students with the existing scholarships available through the foundation. Plus, I did martial arts as a kid with one of the staff member’s husbands. That local, personal connection really matters to us.”
Ryan explained how the scholarship keeps his father’s spirit alive in the community every year:
“My dad was the most social, warm, and gracious person you’d ever meet — someone who genuinely wanted to be friends with everyone. He didn’t get a proper funeral, and this scholarship is our way to celebrate him annually with the community.”
Every year, Ryan stands with his mother in front of a packed auditorium at one of county high school ceremonies, often in front of 400 people, to talk about his dad’s life.’
“It’s one of my favorite things to do, and also one of the hardest,” he shared. “I go back and edit the speech every year. I always choke up — sometimes in the exact same places — but I get to share the heart of who my dad was. I get to celebrate him in front of a crowd of students, families, and teachers, and that’s something really special. It’s how we keep his memory alive.”
With a background as a biology teacher and a deep passion for education, Joe believed in lifelong learning. Ryan recalled, “He quizzed us constantly growing up — from sports trivia to world capitals. Creating a scholarship focused on education was the perfect way to honor his love of teaching.”
Ryan’s hopes for the students who receive the scholarship are deeply personal:
“I want the students to take this money, go to college, and find a path in this world that brings them happiness — maybe not the same exact recipe of happiness my family had, but a happiness all their own. We were incredibly lucky, despite all the hardships. I want these students to use this scholarship to achieve a dream. Bonus points if they move back to our area and enjoy our community as they grow in their career.”
Reflecting on the scholarship’s broader impact, Ryan said, “The impact of this scholarship goes beyond the individual students. I’ve had multiple teachers tell me they are considering starting their own scholarships with the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation because of this story. The impact just keeps growing exponentially — it’s a ripple effect.”
Ryan also highlighted his family’s deep roots in the community through his grandmother, who at 96 years old remains incredibly active. “She lives just a couple streets from the PACF’s office near City Park, right near the Methodist Church you can hit with a rock from the building. Nanny is the sweetest, kindest person. She attends church every Sunday, accompanied by her daughters who volunteer tirelessly with the church’s feeding programs. Giving back is important to my entire family, maybe its in our DNA.”
He also talked about how giving back is a value passed down through his family: “My wife and I tell our kids the two most important tenets to live by are compassion and capability. You have to be capable — live deliberately — but if your purpose lacks compassion, you’re living for the wrong reasons. My daughter is truly altruistic. She helped start a ‘Save the Tigers’ fund at her elementary school to preserve wildlife in Sri Lanka and India. She volunteers at the Actors’ Guild, loves theater, and looks for every chance to give back. My son is growing into a thoughtful and generous person as well.”
The Cardinal Memorial Scholarship is a reflection of the Smith family’s core values — education, service, compassion, and community. It is also a testament to the power of local partnerships. By working with the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, the Smiths ensured that their gift would last — growing over time and helping others, year after year. Rooted in community and growing together, PACF connects people who care with causes that matter right here at home. Through this fund, Joe Smith’s legacy continues to empower future educators and uplift the next generation of leaders in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
