Olga Irene Smith, 104, went to be with her Saviour and Lord Jesus at 9:31 p.m. March 14, 2011, in Grace Village Healthcare, Winona Lake.
She was born Jan. 29, 1907, in Lebanon, to Robert H. and Lillian Cole Smith.
She moved to Warsaw from South Bend in 1993 and to Winona Lake in 1999. She worked for many years as a secretary in Mishawaka, Chicago and Winona Lake. Her shorthand skill became apparent even at 99, when she wrote notes in shorthand for herself. After retiring, she served as a volunteer foster grandparent for special education classrooms and the Northern Indiana State Hospital in the South Bend area until she was in her 80s. She moved to Grace Village Residential Care, Winona Lake, in 1999. She lived there in assisted living until nearly 99 years of age and then her remaining years in Grace Village Healthcare, where in both places she was lovingly cared for and loved for her sense of humor, non-complaining spirit and love of singing - especially hymns.
She loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart and served His church faithfully. She was a much-loved Sunday school teacher of early elementary-age children until 86. At around 4 feet 8 inches in height, her students loved to compare their height to hers. She was a "prayer warrior" for those children long after they had grown up. She enjoyed traveling and went by herself to Europe to visit missionary friends and to Venezuela twice to visit her niece. She was a blessing until her last breath on this earth. She will be missed very much, but rejoice that she is finally seeing the Lord Jesus, her Savior, after 103 years.
Surviving are a nephew, James "Bill" Smith, Coatesville; a niece, Lois (and spouse Gary) Liebert, Mishawaka; great-nieces and -nephews; and great- great-nieces and -nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, James Smith, and a sister, Bonetha Fenimore.
Services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw, officiated by the Rev. Glen Byers, Grace Village Chaplain, Winona Lake, and at 11 a.m. Saturday at Twin Branch Bible Church, Mishawaka, officiated by the Rev. Daniel J. Boes of the church.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Culver Masonic Cemetery with Mark Liebert officiating.
Calling is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Titus Funeral Home; from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bubb Funeral Chapel, Mishawaka; and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Twin Branch Bible Church.
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Memorials may be made to the Twin Branch Bible Church, 3807 Vistula Road, Mishawaka, IN 46544; First Baptist Church, 2819 Patterson Road, Warsaw, IN 46582; or Grace Village, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590.
Condolences may be sent via www.titusfuneralhome.com
