Dorothy Gertrude Smith
Dorothy Gertrude Smith
Dorothy Gertrude Smith
October 15, 1932 – October 16, 2019
What Cheer, Iowa | Age 87
Dorothy Smith, 87, of What Cheer, died Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at the Manor House Care Center in Sigourney. Dorothy Gertrude Chandler Smith was born October 15, 1932 at the Chandler farm near Gibson, Iowa to Elmo and Olive Chandler.
Dorothy was a 1951 graduate of the Gibson High School, where she played basketball and kittenball.
On June 8, 1952 Dorothy married Richard James Smith, her grade school and neighbor boyfriend, they were married 61 years.
Dorothy worked as a farm wife and home maker for several years. After her children were raised Dorothy went to work with Richard in Iowa City at Iowa University as a custodian. She later transferred to the University of Iowa Hospital for 13 years. After retiring she worked at a motel and at William Penn College in the kitchen as a cashier. Richard and Dorothy both worked cleaning for Crop Production in both Gibson and Keswick, the Gibson Bank, and Christian Church in What Cheer. She started helping her family mow Indianapolis Cemetery when she was in 6th grade. For 68 years she looked after the cemetery until 2014, when her son took it over.
Dorothy liked planting lots of flowers, canning, and gardening. She had a bookcase full of cook books. Dorothy liked trying different recipes and adding her own twist. She enjoyed taking her fabric articles, canned goods and baked goods to the What Cheer and Oskaloosa Fair.
Dorothy enjoyed collecting dolls and taking bus trips with her husband to several states, including Alaska and Canada.
Dorothy is survived by her son, Paul Smith of What Cheer; three daughters: Paulette German of New Sharon, Patricia Van Dalen of Oskaloosa and Priscilla (& Sam) Ferrre of Oskaloosa; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren, with one on the way; a brother, Harry (& Velma) Chandler of New Sharon; and an aunt, Mary Louise Utt of Ankeny.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Smith; and a granddaughter, Olivia Van Dalen.
Funeral services will begin at 10:00 am on Monday, October 21, 2019 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer.
Burial will be in the Indianapolis Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer.
Memorial contributions may be made to the What Cheer Fire and Rescue or to the Barnes City Fire and Rescue.
