Virginia B. “Ginger” Smith, 79, Winona Lake, passed away at 9:42 p.m. Nov. 27, 2013, at her residence. She was born May 17, 1934, in Plainfield, N.J., to Harold and Irene Torell Bergstrom. On June 17, 1958, in Madison, Wis., she married John L. Smith, who died July 28, 1983. She was a 1952 graduate of Van Wert (Ohio) High School, and she received her bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1956. She received a master’s degree in guidance and counseling in 1958 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In 1977, she also received certification in school psychology from St. Francis College, Fort Wayne. She lived in Winona Lake and the Warsaw area for the past 46 years. She taught preschool to deaf children and taught kindergarten to eighth grade. She was a school psychologist for North Central Special Education Cooperative for 13 years, a guidance counselor for the Whitko School Corp. for seven years, and was an after-school tutor at Black Lake Lodge, Columbia City, for Whitko High School students. She also taught summer school for Whitko Middle School and weekly classes to divorcing parents for the Whitley County court system. She was a member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Warsaw, where she taught Sunday school for three years; she coordinated and taught church vacation Bible school; she was secretary, vice president and president for the Warsaw YMCA for four to five years; secretary and vice president of the Cardinal Learning Center for eight years; secretary of the board for Warsaw Parks and Recreation (appointed by the mayor); board member of CASA for seven years; division chairman for United Way for a year; Wayne County cancer chairman for one year; treasurer, member of American Association of University Women for seven years where she had been treasurer, vice president and president; worked with Welcome Wagon and Meals on Wheels; and she was proud that she lived with a clean criminal record – no misdemeanors and no felonies – not even a traffic accident report on her record. She was the kind of parent and grandparent who was committed to her church, family and community. She will always be remembered as a kind, loving and compassionate person who will be greatly missed as a mother, friend and mentor. Surviving are two sons, Brendt L. and Harold Smith, both of Winona Lake; two daughters, Christine (and spouse William) Cuban, Winona Lake, and Teresa (and spouse Paul) Beckwith, Fishers; and 10 grandchildren. Services will be at noon Saturday at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 424 W. Market St., Warsaw, with the Rev. Corinne Hodges of the church officiating. She interned in the columbarium at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church/Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Calling is from 10 a.m. to noon. Saturday at the church. ***** Memorials to K-21 Health Foundation – Cancer Care Fund, P.O. Box 1810, Warsaw, IN 46581-1810. Condolences may be sent via www.titusfuneralhome.com
