ROCHESTER – Margaret Merle Wilson Smith, 93, died Jan. 28, 2012, in her daughter’s residence in Rochester, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Oct. 24, 1918, in Kewanna, to John L. “Bummer” and Amy E. Wiley Wilson. On March 10, 1939, at Kewanna United Methodist Church, she married Herbert Dale Smith, who died May 31, 1986.
Growing up she shared her childhood on the farm with her sister Darlene. She graduated from Kewanna High School in 1936.
She knitted or crocheted mittens, sock hats, scarves, slippers and afghans and made dish clothes and seasonal decorations for the holidays. She established a family tradition of creating custom clothing for her infant grandchildren and the great-grandchildren. Each was given a special baby blanket, too.
An avid sports enthusiast, she read Sports Illustrated until the more recent years. Football was her forté’. She watched Notre Dame, Purdue and Drew Brees and Tippecanoe Valley Vikings. The autumn Friday nights were set aside to relax, as she listened to WRSW with Rita Price Simpson for the play-by-play and an occasional greeting from the broadcast booth. It was time for Viking football, coached by her grandson Jeff Shriver.
A member of Grace United Methodist Church, she also sang in the Chancel Choir during her earlier years. She was a member of the Mackinac Club and the Pinochle Club and was a Fulton County 4-H leader. As a seasoned traveler, her favorite destinations were to Colorado to visit with her son Steve and the Blue Ridge Mountains. She loved reading novels and books on history. She listened to all types of music, her favorite song was, “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
She was passionate about life on the farm and lived all of her adult life on the same land parcel.
She is lovingly remembered by two daughters, Elaine Snyder, Fort Wayne, and Jane (and spouse Steve) Shriver, Rochester; a son, Steve (and spouse Lisa) Smith, Sedgwick, Kan.; seven grandchildren: Jeff (and spouse Janie) Shriver, Rochester; Sue (and spouse Eric) Sponable, Fort Wayne; Tina (and spouse Rob) Ford, Alexandria; Richard Snyder, Charlotte, N.C.; Jason Smith, Springfield, Ill.; Beth (and spouse Adam) Smith, Kewanna; and Sara Smith, Illinois; 20 great-grandchildren; and many granddogs. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Richard Dale, who passed to the next life at 5 from complications of pneumonia, and William D., who died March 26, 2004, at 57; her parents; an infant granddaughter, Victoria Lee Snyder; an infant great-grandson, Stephen Doyne Shriver; and a sister, Darlene (and spouse Kenny) Long.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester, with the Rev Maurice Grindle officiating. Burial will be in Rochester’s IOOF Cemetery.
Calling is from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church or Hope Hospice.
