Viola Smith

Viola was born on November 17, 1926 in Carbondale, Illinois to James W. Givens and Cora Belle (Keown) Givens. She came to Mansfield as a young girl where she would grow up and live with her siblings and mother. In her teenage years, Viola fell in love, married and started a family. As a young mother, with her husband in the South Pacific, she supported the war effort while working at Westinghouse. Throughout the years, she would continue to help her husband support their family by working at Sears, Buckeye Bakery, JCPenney and Therm-O-Disc. She would eventually retire from Therm-O-Disc, where she worked on the 50T and 58T assembly lines. She spent 56 years of love with her husband Bob and she was happiest when surrounded by her entire family. She was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Viola is survived by her three children, Judy Maiyer, Jack (Diane) Smith, and Kim (Gina) Smith.

The pride and joy of her life were her 9 grandchildren; who also survive are Mike (Joanne) Maiyer, Matt (Jodi) Maiyer, Mark (Angela) Maiyer, Paul “Monty” Smith, Jack Jr. “JJ” (Sherry) Smith, Josh (Tabitha) Smith, (Anthony) Jessica (Smith) McDuffie, Jill Smith Hittinger and Bobby (Amanda) Smith.

She was blessed with 20 great-grandchildren; Jordan and Ethan Maiyer; Austin, Elle, Mason and Emory Maiyer; Allie, Ashley, Aubrynn, and Alex Maiyer; Victoria and Abigail Smith; Samantha and Sadie Smith; Anthony and Isaac McDuffie; Grace and Natalie Hittinger and Lila and Will Smith.

Viola is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Helen Givens and Eve Smith as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her parents, James W. and Cora B. Givens; sisters, Bonnie Lee Givens, Betty Lou Givens, Ethel Jacobs, GladysTakos, and Sylvia Battle; brothers, Audra and Fleatis Givens and several half-brothers and half-sisters as well as her son-in-law, Thomas Maiyer.

Friends may call at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road, Ontario on Friday, March 9, 2012 from 5-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home conducted by Pastor Marc Patterson of Lucas Grace Bible Church. Her burial will be in Mansfield Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ohio Parkinson Foundation, Northwest Region, Inc., 424 Kentucky Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio 44905.