Dr. Virginia Madaline Wells Smith passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026, in Ocala, Florida, surrounded by family. Virginia, or Ginny as she was known to most, was born in Atlantic City, NJ on May 6, 1940, to Robert Wells and Virginia Mandracia Wells. She grew up in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania with her sisters Judy and Natalie.
She attended Jim Thorpe High School where she excelled in academics, especially English, receiving awards in oration and writing. She was a cheerleader and participated in theater, which would eventually become such a big part of her life. She sang in the chorus and played clarinet in the band, representing JTHS at both the district and state levels. Ginny graduated from JTHS as part of the Class of 1958 and went on to study education at Kutztown State College. After graduating, she returned to JTHS to teach English and to coach both cheerleading and girls’ basketball and was influential in many of her students’ lives. She never stopped striving to learn more and went on to earn her master’s degree at Lehigh University and Doctorate in Education at Walden University. She was a trailblazer for women and became one of the first female principals in Pennsylvania and the first female principal in Jim Thorpe. She served as principal at JTHS, J.T. Junior High and finished her career at the L. B. Morris Elementary school in Jim Thorpe, dedicating over 30 years as an educator.
After retirement she worked at the Carbon County Literacy Council, created a lecture series at the Dimmick Memorial Library, and wrote articles for The Times News. She also played an important part in revitalizing the Mauch Chunk Opera House where she started a children’s theater program and spent much of her time organizing and directing numerous plays. She loved mentoring children from the community and encouraging them to be a part of theater. She volunteered as a librarian and especially loved working with children and hosting story hours. She also wrote a children’s book, “Bella Diva”.
Music was such an important part of her life. She and her sisters sang together as “The Wells Sisters” for their entire lives, even performing at “The Children’s Hour” television show in Philadelphia. To their mother Virginia’s delight, they entertained not only their own family but many in Jim Thorpe and beyond. She was a member of several local choruses and orchestras wherever she resided and was also an accomplished pianist and played the organ in church.
She met and married James Smith in 1982 and they were married for 43 years. They retired to Pawley’s Island S.C. and eventually Ocala, Fl., where they enjoyed many days of card games and scrabble. They loved to travel and visited many places together, often going to see their children and grandchildren, but they especially enjoyed cruises together. Ginny was also Stepmom/Grandma to Jim’s daughters and grandchildren.
Ginny’s family meant everything to her and they loved her dearly. She raised her daughter Jennifer as a single mom. She taught and showed her by example that anything is possible if you work hard and that being a woman should never be a reason for failure or hold you back from pursuing a dream. She also taught her that “practice makes better…no one is perfect”, when to use “she” vs “her” in a sentence, and that being kind always matters. She was “Gramma Ginny” to Jordan, Kiele, Conor and Colton; “GG” to Parker and Callan and always made all of them feel loved and important. She was also a wonderful mother-in-law to Fred, sister to Judy and Natalie, and aunt to all her nieces and nephews (Tommy and Julie
Romanisko and Scott, Kristin, Kelly, Keri and Michael Kmetz).
Virginia is pre-deceased by her parents Virginia and Robert Wells. She is survived by her husband James E. Smith; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Fred Mohre; grandson Jordan Wells Montoya, his wife Cierra and children Parker and Callan; granddaughter Kiele Teresa Mohre, and grandsons Conor Weyand and Colton Maxwell Mohre; sisters and brothers in law Judith and Tom Romanisko, and Natalie and Jack Kmetz, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Ginny was a beloved fixture of the Jim Thorpe community for most of her life; she leaves behind a proud and profound legacy. As a devoted teacher and principal, she did not just teach; she mentored, guided, and believed in generations of teachers and students, shaping the character of countless young minds.
Even in death she remains a teacher by donating her body to science. Ginny’s radiant smile and loving, kind nature will be remembered by everyone that knew her and she will live on through her family, students and friends.
The “Dr. Virginia Wells Smith Scholarship” will be started soon. This annual scholarship will be given to a student at JTHS that plans to pursue a career in education.
A private service for Virginia will be held at a later date.
She attended Jim Thorpe High School where she excelled in academics, especially English, receiving awards in oration and writing. She was a cheerleader and participated in theater, which would eventually become such a big part of her life. She sang in the chorus and played clarinet in the band, representing JTHS at both the district and state levels. Ginny graduated from JTHS as part of the Class of 1958 and went on to study education at Kutztown State College. After graduating, she returned to JTHS to teach English and to coach both cheerleading and girls’ basketball and was influential in many of her students’ lives. She never stopped striving to learn more and went on to earn her master’s degree at Lehigh University and Doctorate in Education at Walden University. She was a trailblazer for women and became one of the first female principals in Pennsylvania and the first female principal in Jim Thorpe. She served as principal at JTHS, J.T. Junior High and finished her career at the L. B. Morris Elementary school in Jim Thorpe, dedicating over 30 years as an educator.
After retirement she worked at the Carbon County Literacy Council, created a lecture series at the Dimmick Memorial Library, and wrote articles for The Times News. She also played an important part in revitalizing the Mauch Chunk Opera House where she started a children’s theater program and spent much of her time organizing and directing numerous plays. She loved mentoring children from the community and encouraging them to be a part of theater. She volunteered as a librarian and especially loved working with children and hosting story hours. She also wrote a children’s book, “Bella Diva”.
Music was such an important part of her life. She and her sisters sang together as “The Wells Sisters” for their entire lives, even performing at “The Children’s Hour” television show in Philadelphia. To their mother Virginia’s delight, they entertained not only their own family but many in Jim Thorpe and beyond. She was a member of several local choruses and orchestras wherever she resided and was also an accomplished pianist and played the organ in church.
She met and married James Smith in 1982 and they were married for 43 years. They retired to Pawley’s Island S.C. and eventually Ocala, Fl., where they enjoyed many days of card games and scrabble. They loved to travel and visited many places together, often going to see their children and grandchildren, but they especially enjoyed cruises together. Ginny was also Stepmom/Grandma to Jim’s daughters and grandchildren.
Ginny’s family meant everything to her and they loved her dearly. She raised her daughter Jennifer as a single mom. She taught and showed her by example that anything is possible if you work hard and that being a woman should never be a reason for failure or hold you back from pursuing a dream. She also taught her that “practice makes better…no one is perfect”, when to use “she” vs “her” in a sentence, and that being kind always matters. She was “Gramma Ginny” to Jordan, Kiele, Conor and Colton; “GG” to Parker and Callan and always made all of them feel loved and important. She was also a wonderful mother-in-law to Fred, sister to Judy and Natalie, and aunt to all her nieces and nephews (Tommy and Julie
Romanisko and Scott, Kristin, Kelly, Keri and Michael Kmetz).
Virginia is pre-deceased by her parents Virginia and Robert Wells. She is survived by her husband James E. Smith; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Fred Mohre; grandson Jordan Wells Montoya, his wife Cierra and children Parker and Callan; granddaughter Kiele Teresa Mohre, and grandsons Conor Weyand and Colton Maxwell Mohre; sisters and brothers in law Judith and Tom Romanisko, and Natalie and Jack Kmetz, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Ginny was a beloved fixture of the Jim Thorpe community for most of her life; she leaves behind a proud and profound legacy. As a devoted teacher and principal, she did not just teach; she mentored, guided, and believed in generations of teachers and students, shaping the character of countless young minds.
Even in death she remains a teacher by donating her body to science. Ginny’s radiant smile and loving, kind nature will be remembered by everyone that knew her and she will live on through her family, students and friends.
The “Dr. Virginia Wells Smith Scholarship” will be started soon. This annual scholarship will be given to a student at JTHS that plans to pursue a career in education.
A private service for Virginia will be held at a later date.
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