Matilda Unruh Smith

02-11-2011

© Enid News and Eagle

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

©Glenn

ENID — Funeral service for Matilda Smith, 97, of Enid, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, at Zoar Mennonite Church, Goltry, with Gordon Jantz officiating. Burial will follow in Karoma Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home Inc., Helena. Viewing will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memories may be shared with the family at www.lanmanmemorials.com.

Matilda was born the third of four children to Simon and Josephine (Buller) Unruh in Goltry on Nov. 11, 1913. She attended a country school, graduating from Goltry High School in 1932.

On June 30, 1934, she married her high school sweetheart, Elmer Smith, at her parents house south of Goltry. During the early years of their marriage they endured the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl years. Together they sought employment when "you couldn't buy a job," working a farm for Elmer Estill near Covington for 25 cents a day. In 1939 they returned to farm land north of Goltry, where they farmed for many years. Her greatest joy was raising baby calves, cooking and gardening.

Retiring in 1979, Elmer and Matilda moved to Cleo Springs. During retirement, Matilda served as cook at Ro-Mel Nursing Home in Helena. Shortly after her husband's death in 2000, she moved to Enid near family. Elmer and Matilda were married 65 years. Matilda passed away Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011.

She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Steve (Kathryn) Niswander of Enid; grandchildren, Mrs. Eric (Juli) Reddick of Enid, Brad Niswander of Enid, Sp1C Brian Niswander, U.S. Army, Ft. Campbell, Ky., Nancy Rohrig of Spokane, Wash., Mrs. Rick (Patty) Ryel of Aline, Dawn Zimbelman of Enid, Dana Padilla of Perry; 11 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; her daughter, Mary Linn Padilla; an infant son; her parents; brothers, Lynn and Lee Unruh; and sister, Esther Lumpkin.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Zoar Mennonite Church or Hospice Circle of Love.

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