Family and Industry Professionals Remember Val Smitter

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Eric “Val” Smitter, 81, a leading member of the Michigan Pest Control Association (MPCA) and owner of Smitter Pest Control, passed away Nov. 25. He had been battling cancer during the past year.

Smith had a 60-plus career in pest control, which began while working for his father Harold, who founded the Smitter Pest Control and from whom Val later purchased the company. Smitter earned a degree in entomology from Purdue University and returned to his alma mater frequently.

“Our company has been successful because we have a good reputation,” said son John Koval-Smitter, service manager, Smitter Pest Control. “My dad always treated his customers with respect, talked to them like human beings and did his best to educate them.”

Smitter was actively involved in associations, serving in a variety of positions with the MPCA and was director of Region 5 for the National Pest Control Association (now the NPMA).

Bill Welsh, president of MPCA and regional manager for Rose Pest Solutions, said Smitter was a fixture with the association for 61 years who will be sorely missed. “He was one of the guys you could count on to work wholeheartedly on any legislative issue that might come up. I’ll always remember him for sitting in the front row of any training session MPCA put on.”

Welsh added that Smitter was instrumental in helping MPCA become part of NPMA’s joint-membership program.

Relaxing was not a word Smitter recognized, as he remained at the forefront of his company until 2007, when his health prevented him to do so. In 2008, Smitter celebrated his 55th year of attendance at the Purdue Pest Management Conference.

“Dad didn’t like the word ‘retire’,” Koval-Smitter said. “He was still active, coming in regularly and giving us tests.”

Koval-Smitter joined the company in 2000 and has gradually taken over the daily operations of Smitter Pest Control, but he said his father remained active with the company. “He was very persistent in doing the job the right way and by the book,” Koval-Smitter said. “He would always stress reading the labels because they would change from time to time.”

In the end, Smitter’s prominent role in his community and his family’s life brought about the most memorable moments.

“When my daughter had a science project, he went to her classroom in a suit with all types of insects on it,” Koval-Smitter said. “He also had antennas. Kids loved him for it.”

Smitter is survived by his wife, Jetti, his children Kim, Kevin, Shawn and John, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Hospice, 2100 Raybrook S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49546.