Dolores Smith

Dolores Smith, 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, June 6, 2016 at Regency Care Center in Norwalk. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2016 at McLaren’s Chapel. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, June 10, 2016 at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in West Des Moines with burial at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.

Dolores was born March 19, 1925 to Albert and Edith (Knouf) McBride in Valley Junction, Iowa. She lost both of her parents by the age of nine and was moved from family to family until she met the love of her life, Art Smith, at the tender age of 16. They were married on October 19, 1941, giving her the family that she never had.

Dolores was a homemaker but also a gardener, carpenter, bricklayer, laborer and mechanic. She did what Art did and never complained. They were each other’s half and together made a whole. When Art died suddenly she was left with five children still at home and although broken, she showed us all the steel that was needed to build us into the family that we are.

Dolores loved her flower and “putzed” with them as much as she could. Puzzles and the newspaper were her special daily routine. No one ever read each and every line of the newspaper like she did. She loved the holidays but especially Christmas, always worrying over each detail that she was sure one of us would forget.

In her earlier years, St. Timothy’s held a special place in her heart where she not only worshipped but joined numerous committees, always helping and volunteering. Her highest honor was becoming president of the Altar Guild. She was so proud.

Dolores is survived by eight children, Art (Linda) of Truro, Sandi (Jerry) of Bellevue, NE, Debbie (John) of Cumming, Cindi of West Des Moines, Jerry (Dawn) of Shawnee, KS, Terry (Cheryl) of Clive, Pam (Jim) of Indianola, and Jeff (Mary) of Des Moines; 22 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Don Smith; sisters-in-law, Virginia, Audrey and Edna Smith; as well as a wealth of nieces and nephews, including her niece, Donna Vance of Eugene, OR. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Smith; parents; sister, Harriet and her twin, Joe; twin, Don; brothers, Marty and Bob; and son-in-law, Jim Thomas.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church.