Thelma Carr Smith
Aug. 14, 1917-May 15, 1995
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 16, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Thelma Carr Smith
1917-1995
former Cub Scout
den mother
Funeral services for Thelma Carr Smith, 77, of 16 Spruce St., Niles, will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, by the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles.
Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
Mrs. Smith died at 9:55 a.m. Monday, at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.
She was born Aug. 14, 1917, in Terre Haute, Ind., and had lived here since 1941, coming from Terre Haute.
On June 15, 1943, at Terre Haute, she married Mahlon J. Smith, who survives.
Mrs. Smith was a Niles Community Schools physical eduction teacher from 1941 to 1943. She originated and, for years, headed Niles -Buchanan YMCA Women's fitness program. From 1966, until retiring in 1987, she headed Southwestern Michigan College's women's physical education program. While at S.M.C., she began their women's varsity athletics.
Mrs. Smith was a member of Westley United Methodist Church. She received her bachelor of science degree from Indiana State University in 1939. She was a member of Cosmopolitan Club; “I. Women” Indiana Athletic Association Honorary Society; former member of Greater Niles Recreation; Niles-Buchanan YMCA, and former Cub Scout den mother.
In addition to her husband, survivors include a daughter, Ellen Smith Konopaski of Hansville, Wash.; two sons, Jerome B. Smith of Nashville, Tenn., and Bradford G. Smith of Portland, Ore.; one grandchild; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Laura Linsenmier of Niles, and two brothers, Donald Carr of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Robert Carr, Irving, Calif.
Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5-8- p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA Endowment Fund.