Marie H. Smolka

Marie Helen Smolka, age 92, of Toledo, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, December 23, 2013 at Arbors of Sylvania. A native of Toledo, she was born May 8, 1921 to the late Frank and Emma Ritzman Smolka. She was a 1939 graduate of Woodward High School. She furthered her education at Stautzenberger College. Maries career was as an executive secretary at Champion Spark Plug for many years. She had been a lifelong member of the former First United Church of Christ and more recently was attending Christ Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed music and was a talented piano and violin player; was a master gardener, keeping immaculate flower gardens at her home; was a gifted painter of fine china; and a skilled baker, known for her cookies and brownies which she shared with friends and relativesespecially at Christmas.. Marie also volunteered as a guide at the Toledo Museum of Art for several years. She was a member of the Quarter Century and Retiree Club of Champion Spark Plug. Surviving are her cousins, Richard Anne Bradley and Walter Pam Ritzman; and a host of second cousins, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be Thursday from 3-8 p.m. in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Avenue west of Corey Road where funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 27, 2013. The Rev. Tom Schwartz will preside with committal services and burial to follow at Toledo Memorial Park. The family wishes to thank the staff at Arbors at Sylvania for the kind and compassionate care they provided for Marie. She was fun to be with and we will miss her dearly.