John Smotherman, 68, co-founder and owner of injection molder Plastex Industries Inc. in Toledo, died July 24 of a heart attack.
Born in Kentucky and raised in Hazel Park, Mich., Smotherman joined the Army in 1958. He later attended Macomb County Community College and worked as an accounting intern at a plastics molding company.
Following his position with Rexall Chemical Co. as a sales representative, he and his wife moved to Toledo and started Plastex in 1969 with several partners. Smotherman and his wife eventually became the firm's sole owners.
Smotherman also was part owner of Dreco Inc., an injection molder near Cleveland. He is survived by his wife, Susan Robinson.
