Shirley Ann Smith

Celebration of Life services for Shirley Ann Smith, 89 of Newark, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023, in the Grace Lutheran Church, Thornville with Pastor Tom Jacobson as celebrant. Private Graveside services will be held for the family, where Shirley will be interred next to her husband Gene in the Lutheran Reformed Cemetery, Thornville.

Shirley passed away peacefully on Tuesday May 30, 2023 at her home in Newark following a long illness. She was born in Ellicott City, Maryland on November 11, 1933, the daughter of the late George D. and Ivel Johnson Winfrey.  She was a graduate of Old Richmond High School in Pfafftown, N.C. and Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN. Shirley taught typing and shorthand at Thornville H.S. 1955-1957, and then at Licking Valley H.S. from 1968-1973. She was also the secretary of the Ohio District office A.L.C. and also for the newly formed E.L.C.A., retiring in 1998. A Member of Grace Lutheran, Thornville for many years, she received her commission as a congregational staff worker in the church on April 13, 1986, where she was participating until her death.

She is survived by her loving family: her daughters Rebecca Kauffman, Cynthia Smith (Mark Stockwell) and Linda (Duane) Kight, along with her grandchildren Alyssa (A.J.) Kauffman-Thomas, Jordan Oliver and Leah (Patrick) Oliver-Hall, along with her great grandson Anthony Colten Thomas, her sister-in-law Marie (Mrs. George) Winfrey,  nieces Gloria Humble, Debbie Dean, Judy Watkins, nephews Frank, Mark, and Sandy Winfrey.

In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Gene in 2017, and her brothers George, Robert and Henry Winfrey; her sister Lynn Winfrey-Swaim; her nephew Gray.

Memorial contributions may be made Grace Lutheran Church, for the benefit of Youth Ministries. Envelopes will be available at the church.