Dorothea Mae Smith

Dorothea Mae Smith, age 92, of Bryan, Ohio, died at 12:30 P.M. on Sunday, February 10, 2013, at Bryan Care & Rehabilitation, where she was a resident. She was a homemaker and business partner with her husband at Smith Welding Shop and Smith Water Ball Company. She was a dedicated assistant to her husband during his fire department career and was active in the Ladies Firemen’s Auxiliary. She and her husband, Merit, were the 2007 Grand Marshals of the Bryan Jubilee Parade. Her family will remember her as the best wife, mom, grandma and friend they could have asked for. Born on November 4, 1920, in Fulton County, Ohio, she was the daughter of Lloyd and Daisy Olive (Lett) Kline. She graduated from Gorham Fayette Schools in 1938. On November 15, 1939, she married Merit W. Smith in Newport, Kentucky, and he survives. Dorothea is also survived by her son, Kent M. (Sharon) Smith, of Fostoria; daughters, Vicki L. DeLong, of Bryan, and Pamela J. (Leon) Franks, of Bryan; grandchildren, Carolyn (Ron) Fritz, Kent Smith, Jr., Shelly (Ed) Cornell, Troy Myers, Kyle (Jamie) DeLong, Tina (John) Hubbell, Joel (Amy) DeLong, Tim Franks, Julie (Randy) Cape; sixteen great-grandchildren; a great-great grandson; and a sister-in-law, Carolyn Kline, of Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Donna Kline, Meryl Heximer and Carolyn Sette, and a brother, Marvin Kline. A memorial service celebrating the lives of Merit and Dorothea Smith will be held on Friday, July 31, 2015, at 11:00 A.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, Bryan, with Pastor Dorothy Ritchey-Moore officiating. Interment will be in Pleasant View Union Cemetery, in Fayette. The family will receive visitors for one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 A.M. on Friday. Memorials in the name of Dorothea Mae Smith may be given to the Bryan Fire Department or the Alzheimer’s Association.