Diane Staffelbach Smith

Mary Diane Staffelbach Smith was born June 15, 1930. in Nowata, Oklahoma. She died peacefully on January 6, 2023, in Lakeway, Texas. Diane is having a joyous reunion in Heaven with her husband, Tom Smith, her son, Tommy Smith, and many other departed friends and relatives.

Diane graduated from Nowata High School in 1948 where she played saxophone in the Band and was selected as Basketball Queen. Diane graduated Oklahoma A&M College in three years in 1951, with a BA in Journalism, where she was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Editor of The O’Colly, the school newspaper. Diane married Tom Smith in November of 1951. Tom and Diane celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2016.

In 1952-55, Tom served in active combat duty with the US Army in Korea flying Cessna L-19s. Diane worked for the Dallas Chamber of Commerce during these early years of their marriage.

Tom and Diane have lived in Oklahoma, Virginia, Kansas, Wyoming, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, Singapore and France. While in Houston, Diane served as the co-leader of the Campfire Girls group, and the girls enjoyed many camping trips throughout the years, often traveling together in the blue station wagon. Diane’s journalistic efforts resulted in a feature article in the Houston Chronicle celebrating the gingerbread house that the Campfire Girls constructed. Diane also sang in the Chancel Choir at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church. Tom and Diane enjoyed square dancing with the Cen-Ners In square dance club in Houston. Diane served as Cen-Ners In President in 1991, and in that year, Tom and Diane celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at a surprise party at the club.

Moves to Denver, Singapore and France brought new adventures and new friends along the way. As they moved to each new location, Tom and Diane enjoyed hosting guests for dinner parties, ski trips and sightseeing excursions over the years.

Tom and Diane moved to Lakeway in 1998, after many memorable Lakeway vacations with family friends including the Millers, the Dobsons, the Gilbreaths and the Kellys in the 1970s. Diane sang second soprano in the Lakeway Church Choir and provided publicity for Lakeway’s Viewpoints Distinguished Speaker Dinner series. Diane served as President of the Lakeway Republican Women’s Club, and she enjoyed decorating the LRWC float for the Lakeway July 4th Parade. Tom and Diane danced regularly in a ballroom dancing club in Lakeway.

Diane is survived by a loving close family. She was "Mom" to Susan Smith Howes and Hal Howes, "Granny" to Rachel Howes Cosgrove, Patrick Cosgrove and Elizabeth Howes, "Sister" to Marian Smith King, and "Aunt Diane" to a multitude of nieces and nephews. Diane is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Byron Smith, her parents, Ralph Everett Staffelbach and Cordia Lillian Lukert Staffelbach, her son, Thomas Byron Smith Jr., and her sister, Ruth Elaine Staffelbach James, her sisters-in-law, Cleonna Smith Armstrong and Nell Smith Thompson, and her brothers-in-law, Jack James and Reg King.

Special thanks to the staff, medical providers, caregivers and residents at Arbor Terrace Lakeway and Magnolia Hospice. Diane enjoyed her role of “greeter” in welcoming new residents to Arbor Terrace.

Please join us on Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. in a Celebration of Life service at Lakeway Church at 2203 Lakeway Boulevard, Lakeway, Texas 78734 followed by a reception at the church. Donations to Lakeway Church Music Ministry are suggested in Diane's memory. (lakewaychurch.org)