OPDYKE - Ruth Ella Smith, 74, of Opdyke died at 5 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis.

She was born on Sept. 17, 1924, in Mt. Vernon, daughter of Arthur and Velda (Gaddis) Boswell.

She married Ralph M. Smith on June 28, 1941, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and he survives.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Smith is survived by two sons, Kenneth G. Smith of Springfield and Donald R. Smith of Coconut Creek, Fla.; two sisters, Mildred Eller of Centralia and Thelma Jean Boswell of Opdyke; and three grandchildren.

Mrs. Smith was employed by Security Bank, which later became Boatmens Bank, as a teller and in new accounts until her retirement. She was a member of the Opdyke Ruritan Club and a Methodist.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hughey Funeral Home with the Rev. Ed Williams officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Source: Unknown
Date: August 1999
Submitted by: Janet Fryar Rohlfs