Margaret Sue Bender Smith

Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Aunt, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Kin, Friend to all, Artist, Jewess. All these nouns describe Margaret Sue Bender Smith whose life on this earth ended June 29, 2018. Just as important are the adjectives that describe her further: kind, caring, thoughtful, well-dressed, patient, hard-working, dedicated.

Margaret was born January 12, 1920, in Commerce, Texas, the second child and first daughter of Jake Bender and Celia Byers Bender. With older brother, Alvin, the family moved to Dallas to be close to Celia’s parents and siblings where Margaret's sister, Thelma Helen, was born. The Bender family welcomed into their lives Bender cousins Ruth (then age 10), and Florence (then age 6), who grew up as daughters in the Bender household after their parents passed away.

Margaret graduated Dallas Technical High School as salutatorian, just .13 points behind sister Florence, who was valedictorian, with an overall GPA of 97.79. After high school, Margaret attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with a degree in art and education. She belonged to Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, where she made life-long friends. When asked why she didn’t get a masters degree and Florence did, Margaret replied that it was because she was offered a teaching position at Stonewall Jackson Elementary School, which she gladly accepted, teaching art and second grade from 1940 until she married in 1946, and again in 1962, until she retired at age 62.

Of course, the most important person in her life was her husband, Leon Abraham Smith, whom Margaret married on June 23, 1946, after he was discharged from the Army. Margaret and Leon were blessed with three children; Jenifer Smith Blum (Dr. Michael), Frank Smith and Sherrie Smith Grunfeld (Dr. Steven); grandchildren Deanna Blum Koenigsberg (Dr. Alan), Stephen Blum (Elizabeth) and Daniel Blotcky (Alyson). Margaret had a special relationship with her great-grandchildren, whom she greeted affectionately with "GG loves you": Mitchell, Jack and Henry Koenigsberg, Hannah and Ava Sobel Blum and Ashton and Elon Blotcky. Margaret is also survived by her sister, Thelma Helen Pomarantz.

Margaret and Leon had a special relationship with the then-tiny town of Rockwall, TX, where Leon opened Smith Dry Goods in 1946. Leon attended SMU Law School at night and, after he graduated and opened his law office, Margaret would fill in as his secretary from time to time. It was a sad day when the doors of Smith Dry Goods closed forever, but the relationships Leon and Margaret made with the folks of Rockwall remained strong even after Leon's retirement.

Margaret decided early in life to be nice to everyone she met. This decision, coupled with her eternally positive outlook, made her a joy to be around. Margaret loved color and loved to paint. She was often asked if she would sell one of her paintings and she would respond that she painted for her own pleasure. Many of Margaret’s paintings hang in her families homes.

Margaret's family wants to especially thank Rabbi Shawn Zell for his spiritual guidance and Gloria Alexander, Margaret’s constant and loving caregiver, who watched over Margaret for the past 5+ years.

Margaret’s family requests that those who wish to do so, make donations to either Dallas Chapter of Hadassah, where Margaret served in many positions, including Chapter president, or to Tiferet Israel Synagogue, the first Dallas Orthodox Jewish Synagogue, one of whose founding members was Margaret’s grandfather, Frank Byers.

Finally, her family wants to share three principles from 'Margaret's Philosophy of Life' so that anyone reading her story will understand what a truly exceptional person she was. Please take to heart and share these words of wisdom with those you love. 1. You don’t have to like everyone, but you have to be nice to everyone. 2. If you can’t say something nice about a person, don’t say anything. 3. Get out of bed, get dressed and go to school (or your job). You’ll feel better when you get there.

We’ll miss you mom, grandmother, GG…z’l.

REMEMBERING MARGARET BY THE SONGS SHE LOVED

“Always”– Irving Berlin

I'll be loving you, oh always

With a love that's true always.

When the things you've planned

Need a helping hand,

I will understand always.

Always.

Days may not be fair always,

That's when I'll be there always.

Not for just an hour,

Not for just a day,

Not for just a year,

But always.

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of North American baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song. Margaret wasn’t much of a baseball fan, but she loved the song.

Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd;

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,

I don't care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win, it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,

At the old ball game.

Anim Z’mirot – Hymn of Glory - Margaret’s favorite Shabbat song. She would brighten up every time the ark was opened near the end of the service.

May You find sweet and pleasing my prayer and my songs;

My soul goes out in yearning, for You alone it longs.