Vada Elsie Smith
Born: June 02, 1917
Died: February 21, 2008
Vada Elsie (Rainey) Smith born June 2, 1917 in Fort Worth, Texas and died February 21, 2008 at the age of 90 in Guthrie, Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ettie May (Clark) Rainey and William Edgar Rainey; her sister, Hazel Eola Rainey; her brother, Harold Edgar Rainey; and her sister, Reata Louise (Rainey) Hightower.
Vada attended schools in Fort Worth and graduated from Polytechnic High School. She worked two years at Montgomery Wards and graduated from Texas Wesleyan University on June 1, 1942 with a BA Degree. She taught high school English in Reagan, Texas near Waco, and taught one year at West Columbia High School near Houston, Texas.
Vada first met her husband Marley in the summer of 1941 while she was serving on a Methodist Youth Caravan in the Western Churches of Oklahoma. Marley came to Texas later and they became engaged. He entered the armed services following Pearl Harbor and Vada came to Guthrie in 1945 and served as Youth Director, Secretary and Treasurer of the First Methodist Church while Marley was sent to England for 3 years, returning on August 14, 1945. They were married at Polytechnic Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas on August 25, 1945, by Rev. Herbert Gattie of First Methodist Church, Guthrie.
Vada returned to teaching in 1965, attended graduate school and graduated from Central State University in 1967 with a Masters Degree in Education and Certification in Library Science. She taught sophomore high school English in Guthrie and was Librarian at Guthrie High School for 17 years.
Vada served as youth director for the Guthrie First United Methodist Church at two different times; taught Sunday School and was very active within the church family.
Vada is survived by husband, Marley Addison Smith; son, Marley Addison Smith, Jr., and wife, Judy; daughter, Shirley Marlene (Smith) Crume and husband, Gene; and daughter Beverly Sue (Smith) Sykes and husband, Earl; eight grandchildren; David Marley Weinand and wife, Stacey; Zac Smith; Jessie Amanda (Smith) Shipley and husband, Tyler; Michael Farris Chitwood and wife, Terri: Kelley Marie Crume; Amy Michelle (Sykes) Ingle and husband, Shawn; Jillian Dawn Sykes and Kyle David Sykes; four great-grandchildren: Daniel David Weinand; Jessica Margaret Weinand; Kathleen Kelly Weinand; and Brent Daniel Ingle.
Some of the organizations Vada was as a member of are OEA; NEA; Past President of Guthrie American University Women; past Present of Chapters AY and AD of P.E.O.; Mi-La-Mi Serving Club; Past President of Methodist Guild; Past Present of United Methodist Women, including several of the circles; Past President of Horticulture Garden Club and served on Guthrie Garden Council; Retired Teachers Association; Past President of Chapter PI of Delta Kappa Gamma; and Charter Member of Beta Pho of Delta Kappa Gamma.
Funeral services were held Monday, February 25, 2008 at First United Methodist Church with Pastor Mike DeMoss officiating. Burial followed at Summit View Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
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