Elva Elrena Smith

Elva Elrena Smith was born on Thursday, April 6, 1922, in Agricola, Kansas. She was the daughter of Boyd and Eva E. (Stevens) Whitcher. A lifelong Franklin County, Kansas resident, Elva lived most of her life in the Williamsburg and Homewood communities, until her death on Saturday, November 11, 2006, at the age of eighty-four years. She graduated from Williamsburg High School with the class of 1941. Elva was a lifelong homemaker and held several positions at Ottawa businesses. In the 1940's, she was a sales clerk at F.W. Woolworth's. For nine years, during the 1950's, she was a seamstress at Mode O'Day; in the 1970's, a bookkeeper at the OTASCO store; and, in the 1980's, an administrative assistant at Ransom Memorial Hospital. She was a faithful member of Faith Lutheran Church in Ottawa, and the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. She was a charter member of the Ottawa Hope House, volunteered many years with the American Red Cross Blood Mobile and was a member and former treasurer of the local chapter of the Salvation Army. Elva was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who greatly enjoyed spending time with her family. She liked to cook and sew and took pride in her gardening. She also enjoyed the outdoors and fishing. On July 21, 1943, Elva was united in marriage with G. Bosco Smith in Lawrence, Kansas. He preceded her in death on March 6, 1990. She is also preceded in death by her parents and son, Robert L. Smith. Elva is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Geri and Bill Owen of Ottawa; son, Gerald A. Smith of Williamsburg; son and daughter-in-law, Ronald D. and Michelle Smith of Williamsburg; brother and sister-in-law, Boyd J. and Maxine Whitcher of Cherryvale, Kansas; grandchildren, Andrew Smith, Alan Smith, Gregory Owen and his wife, Stacy, Brad Owen and his wife, Emily, Steve Smith and his wife, Cary, Tammy Smith, Julie Maxwell and her husband, George, Lisa Huebner and her husband, Paul, Kari Parks and her husband, Jeff, Jessica Schulz, Beau Schulz, Shelley Kimball and her husband, Leland; seven step grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren. SERVICES: Funeral services will be held from the Dengel & Son Mortuary 2:00 PM Wednesday, November 15, 2006. IN STATE: Mrs. Smith will lie in state at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 5:00 PM Monday to the service hour, where the family will meet with friends 7:00 to 8:00 Tuesday evening. CEMETERY: Greenwood Cemetery, Franklin County, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Kansas Dialysis Services, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.