Kathleen Smith

Kathleen Keller Smith, age 80, of Perrysburg, passed away Wednesday morning, October 19, 2011, surrounded by her three children. She was born the day after Christmas, 1930, to Clarence John Keller and Lorla Stuempel Keller. She grew up in Wauseon, Ohio. Kathleen took home the 3rd place prize in Spanish for the State of Ohio her junior year of high school. That same year she was editor of the high school paper and was invited to attended Girls State, the summer leadership and citizenship program sponsored by the American Legion and its Auxiliary. She was valedictorian of the Wauseon High School class of 1948, a distinction her mother also earned. Kathleen graduated from DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, in 1952 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Romance Languages. While at DePauw, she was initiated into Delta Delta Delta social fraternity. She received the Diamond Trident for the highest grade point average in her sorority. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor fraternity, her junior year. She also received the “Miss Legs” trophy that year for having the best legs on campus. A loyal DePauw alumna, she donated a renewable scholarship for incoming students to the school. After graduation from DePauw, she worked at the GE Jet Engine Plant in Cincinnati, Ohio, in applied mathematics (calculations which are now performed by computers) for two years and then embarked on a teaching career. She taught high school English, French and Algebra at Stryker from 1954 – 1956. She received her Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan in 1957. While attending U of M, she began dating Charles L. Smith, whom she married on September 5, 1960. She taught Algebra and French at Swanton High School from 1957 until 1962, when her husband started medical school at the University of Michigan. Kathleen and her husband lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan from 1962 until 1970, where all three of their children were born. While in Ann Arbor, she served as the Alumnae Advisor to the Tri Delta chapter at the University of Michigan. The family moved to Perrysburg, Ohio in 1970, when her husband began practicing ophthalmology at the corner of Indiana Avenue and East Boundary. Kathleen served as President of the Toledo Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Delta Delta, and the Perrysburg Garden Club. She was on the Board of Historic Perrysburg. She was a member of the Association of American University Women, and served her church, First United Methodist of Perrysburg, in several capacities, most recently on the Memorials committee. Kathleen was a member of the Toledo Club, Belmont Country Club, Carranor Hunt & Polo Club, Devil’s Lake Yacht Club, the University of Michigan President’s Club, and the University of Michigan Toledo Alumnae Chapter. A voracious reader, Kathleen read two newspapers a day, and had a lifelong love of learning. She took graduate level classes in Latin and German at Bowling Green State University for fun in the 1980s. A music lover, she also took piano lessons with her daughter, Clare, at BGSU, but both dreaded the recitals! Kathleen and Charles enjoyed traveling the world together, visiting many of the countries in Europe, as well as Egypt, Russia, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. In an adventurous spirit, they traveled to China in 1985 to commemorate their 25th Wedding Anniversary, and took their children with them because it was so educational. The Smiths particularly enjoyed the trips sponsored by the Toledo Museum of Art and made many wonderful friends through those vacations. She was the proud mother of, and is survived by, her three children: Amy L. Smith, M.D., C.J. Keller Smith (Heather Wishart-Smith), and Clare S. (Joel) Gorski; six grandchildren: Ivanny, Alex, Max and Charlie Gorski, and Nicholas and Clara Smith; brother-in-law Dr. Robert N. (Joan) Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Dr. Charles L. Smith. The family would like to thank all the home health aides that provided her with loving care, allowing her to stay at home during her brief illness. Friends will be received Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 4-8 p.m. at Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, 222 East South Boundary, Perrysburg (419-874-3133). Memorial services will be held at Witzler-Shank on Sunday, October 23, 2011, with the Academy Brass Quintet playing at 1 p.m.; service at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be private at Ft. Meigs Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Toledo Museum of Art, Perrysburg Area Historical Museum, or WGTE.