Mildred Ruth Smith

Mildred Ruth Smith, 92, formerly of Vernon and Cedar counties, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Valley Falls, Kan. Mildred was born Oct. 5, 1927, in Sweet Springs, Mo., to James and Margie (Hartman) Kuntz. On May 11, 1946, she married Eldon Lee Smith in El Dorado Springs, Mo., and to this union two sons were born.

Mildred grew up in Sweet Springs, Mo., and also in Cedar and Vernon counties in Missouri. She moved with her family to Wichita, Kan., and later to Salina, Kan., where she worked at Beach Aircraft until her retirement. Mildred was an avid gardener, she loved to fish and travel, and “snow birding” to warmer places during wintertime.

Survivors include one son, Ronald Lee Smith (Lyan), Valley Falls, Kan.; a daughter-in-law, Opal Smith, Baker, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Laurie Rowan (Kerry), Baker, Fla., Cheryl Smith, Dublin, Ga., CAnne Wolfe (Steve), San Francisco, Calif., Steven Smith, Ridgecrest, Calif., Desiree Dicky (Derek), Ridgecrest, Calif., Sarah Long, Abilene, Kan., Lysa Mathews (Derick), Moran, Kan., and Jessica Long, Tucson, Ariz.; 18 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Eldon, she was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; Earnest Kuntz and Clyde J. Kuntz; and a son, Donald Dean Smith.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 7, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor Howard Hamilton officiating. Interment will follow in Olive Branch Cemetery, Milo, Mo. The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.