Hilda Eileen (Crider) Smith

Friday, July 20, 2012

Hilda Eileen (Crider) Smith, 83, of Harwood, Mo., the daughter of Clarence and Bertha Evaline (Flood) Crider was born April 18, 1929, in Cavallo, Ohio, and passed from this life Sunday, July 15, 2012, at the Cedar County Memorial Hopsital in El Dorado Springs, Mo.

Hilda attended school in both East Mansfield and Johnsville, Ohio, receiving her high school diploma in 1947. On Dec. 25 of that same year, she was united in marriage to Floyd Melvin Smith at the First Lutheran Church-Park Avenue West in Mansfield, Ohio, and to their union two sons were born. Hilda worked outside the home for a short time at the Therm-O-Disc, where circuit boards were manufactured, but spent most of her years as a homemaker. Taking care of two young boys turned out to be a very full-time job.

In 1974, she and Smitty moved to Harwood and made this area their home. Hilda enjoyed collecting antiques and doing craft work. Through the years she became accomplished at rock-tumbling to make jewelry and hand-whittled intricate dolls to both sell and give to family and friends. She used her own hand-whittled ornaments to create Christmas-themed storytime for her Sunday school students and also loved teaching vacation bible school. But as much as she enjoyed those hobbies, she would drop them in the blink of an eye to go hunting or fishing with Smitty. She was a longtime member of the Harwood Methodist Church until its closing just a few years ago. Most of all, Hilda loved her family and was especially close to them. Along with her husband and sons, her daughters-in-law held a special place in her heart.

Survivors include her husband of more than 64 years, Floyd; two sons, Rex Smith and his wife, Linda, of Bolivar, Mo., and Steve Smith and his wife, Jerilyn, of Findlay, Ohio; one brother, Carl Crider and his wife, Marge, of Mansfield, Ohio; one sister, Edith Huvler and her husband, Meryle, also of Mansfield, Ohio; five grandchildren, Bryan Rex Smith, Kristy Lynn Patton, Heather Dawn Daniels, Angela Kristen Fenstermaker, and Jennifer Susan Hoadley; four great-grandchildren, John Thomas "Jack" Patton III, Keaton Lane Patton, Elise Dawn Fenstermaker, and Parker Daniel Fenstermaker; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Hilda was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Lula Balliett and Elise Craven; and one grandson, Brett Hunter Smith.

Funeral services for Hilda Eileen Smith were held at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 19, at the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City, Mo., with the Rev. Connie Locke officiating. Selected music was "Amazing Grace." Pallbearers were J.T. Patton, Bryan R. Smith, Stephen Daniels, Jerry Coy, Kenny Hallam, and Mark Fenstermaker. Interment was in the Green Mound Cemetery in Harwood, Mo., where memorials are suggested.

Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Smith were entrusted to the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City, Mo.