Mary Jane Smith

SMITH, Mary Jane, 87, of Centerville passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on April 12, 2008. She attended the Church of the Incarnation. Mary Jane was born in Franklin, OH on April 14, 1920, where she graduated from Franklin High School in 1938. She worked for Standard Register Co., in Dayton, where she met her husband of 65 years, Victor W. Smith, Sr. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Priscilla Swab, great-granddaughter, Jessica Cook and grandsons, Joel Summers and Stuart Smith. Mary Jane is survived by her husband, Victor W. Smith, Sr.; children: Robert W. (Carol) Smith, Victor W. (Alexa) Smith, Jr. Theresa (Steve) Summers, Mary (Michael) Higgins, Deborah Hempel, Christina Black, grandchildren: Bill (Deborah) Smith, Julie (Doug) Cook, Amber (Scott) Cohen, Josh Smith, Rachel Smith, Heidi Smith, Logan Smith, Lori (Kenny) Kelly, Becky (Jeff) Burleson, David (Angie) Summers, Ryan Higgins (fiance, Jennifer Garrett) and Kevin Higgins, Victoria Hempel, and Devin Black, great-grandchildren: Ashley Smith, Cameron Cook, Braden Cook, Ethan Cook, Madelyn Cohen and Paige Cohen, Kaity Kelly, Brianna Burleson and Alyssa Burleson. Mary Jane was a member of the Centerville Historical Society, where she was a volunteer at the Walton House Museum. The Mary Jane Smith Garden was dedicated in 1993. She was also a member of the Centerville Women's Civic Club and The Centerville Garden Club. Mary Jane and her husband, Victor, were extremely talented ballroom dancers and danced in exhibitions for Arthur Murray Studios. She was an avid collector and speaker on Indian artifacts. Gardening and nature were her passions. She will always be remembered for her generosity, friendship and unending love for family and friends as she would constantly ask, "is there anything I can do for you?" A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday at 10:30AM at the Church of the Incarnation. Burial will immediately follow the Mass at Calvary Cemetery. The Smith family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 5-8:00PM at Routsong Funeral Home, 81 N. Main St., Centerville. Memorial contributions may be sent to The Centerville Historical Society, c/o The Walton House Museum, Mary Jane Smith Gardens, 89 W. Franklin St. Centerville, OH 45459 or Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420. Condolences and other remembrances may be sent to the family by visiting www.routsong.com

Funeral Home:
Centerville Routsong Funeral Home
81 N. Main St.
Centerville, OH
US 45459