NAOMI “NAN” SMITH, 91

WELLSVILLE – Naomi “Nan” Smith, 91, slipped peacefully into eternal rest at 10:40 a.m. Sunday morning, February 15, 2015 at the Hospice House in Poland, after being ill just a few days. She was surrounded at the time of her death by her loving family, and by the prayers of many others.

Born at home in Smiths Ferry, PA, on January 13, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Anna Childs. A lifetime area resident, Nan was a 1941 graduate of Midland High School and had been a ware dresser at Sterling China, retiring in 1989.

Her faith was the cornerstone of her life; she had been a member of the Smiths Ferry United Methodist Church since childhood and was involved in virtually every aspect of the church. In her later years, she belonged to Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wellsville.

Considered to be the stronghold of the family, her world revolved around her children, grandchildren and great-grandson. She was constantly encouraging others with uplifting cards, she kept up with current events and loved reading murder mysteries and playing cards with friends, and always had time to listen – unless it was during a Steelers game. Her love for sports began at any early age, as she attended a World Series game at Forbes Field with her father.

On May 10, 1945, she married Ralph Winston Smith, Sr. Upon his death in 1956, she became both a mother and a father to her two small children. Throughout her life, Nan put others before herself, and had helped encourage and lovingly care for countless children, and was a major influence on each and every one of them.

Surviving is her a daughter, Lynn McIntosh and her husband, Buck, of Wellsville, and by her son, Ralph W. Smith, Jr. and his wife, Debbie, of Canfield.

Nan was a proud grandmother of John McIntosh (whom she treated like a son) and his wife, Heidi, of Wellsville; Jenna Fantone and her husband, Kevin, of Boardman; and Ashley Smith of Canfield and her fiancé, Michael Sheffield. Another grandson, Brian “Bubba” McIntosh, passed away in 2002. She is also survived by her great-grandson and confidante, Mitchell McIntosh, who she has entrusted to maintain “Boomertown” and “Lakeshore”.

Also surviving is a sister, Jean Sturtz, and a brother, Robert Childs, along with numerous nieces and nephews and family members who were a huge part of her life. Naomi was also preceded in death by a sister, Lois Gallagher, and two brothers, John Childs and Charles “Chickie” Childs.

Friends may visit at the Dawson Funeral Home on Monday (today), where the family will be present from 7 to 9 p.m.

Pastor Willard “Chuck” Adkins of the Smiths Ferry Church will conduct services at the funeral home at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will take place at Spring Hill Cemetery. Following the services, family and friends will gather at the Dawson Family Center for a continued time of fellowship and lunch.

Contributions in Nan’s name may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514.

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