Mary Sue Smith

Mary Sue Webner Smith of Galion, Ohio, passed away in Columbus, Ohio on June 30, 2022.

She was born on April 10, 1937, in Orrville, Ohio, to Leroy and Lucile (Lambert) Webner. She spent all her life until age 18 in Orrville, graduating from Orrville High School with the class of 1955. In 1958, she graduated from Otterbein College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French. She married Fred E. Smith of Shelby at the Orrville Methodist Church on June 15, 1958, and they were married 64 years. He survives.

Mary Sue and Fred lived for one year in Dundalk, Maryland, while he finished his stint in the U.S. Army. While there, she taught 8th grade core subjects at North Point Junior High School. They moved to Galion in July of 1959, and she began teaching at Galion High School that fall. Through the years, she taught English and French at both Galion Middle and High Schools and served as a Learning Disabilities tutor, alternating years of teaching with years of staying home with her children.

Mary Sue was active in Christ United Methodist Church since 1959. She taught 6th grade Sunday School classes for a time and directed a children's choir and later a large junior choir for many years. Beginning in 1960, she sang until recently in the chancel choir and, at times, accompanied or sang in special vocal groups. She played in the bell choir. For at least 15 years, she was director of a two-week Vacation Bible School at the church. In addition, she served on various committees and was a member of the United Methodist Women and its Deborah Circle as well as tutoring in the Club 130 program at the church.

When her sons were in elementary school, Mary Sue served with the P.T.A. and as a Cub Scout den mother. Other volunteer work has included playing piano for Magnolia Terrace, helping prepare and sell tickets and doing some acting in small parts at the Galion Community Theatre, and shelving books at the Galion Public Library. She enjoyed her children and 13 grandchildren, especially playing games with them (Round the World ping pong, card games, triple or quad solitaire, and all sorts of board games); playing the piano; reading; and watching OSU sports on TV. In her high school days, she had enjoyed participating in basketball and volleyball, as well as playing piano and violin in the orchestra and singing in the choirs and a special barbershop girls' quartet. At Otterbein, she sang in the acapella choir. Mary Sue loved getting to know people and their backgrounds. She and Fred had a real and loving partnership in their marriage and enjoyed traveling together and helping one another.

In addition to Fred, Mary Sue is survived by five sons: Brian (Lisa) of Powell, OH; Brad (Cindy) of Green Cove Springs, FL; Matt (Traci) of Sanford, FL; Mike (Kristi) of Mundelein, IL; and Dr. Doug (fiancée Amanda) of Lexington, KY. Grandchildren are Ellen (David) of Monterey, CA, Dr. Ryan (Nikki) of Powell, OH, Adam of Groveport, OH, Dr. Chad (Maria) of Green, OH, Madison of Winter Park, FL, Jack of Sanford, FL, Marianne of New York, NY, Katie of Tampa, FL, Margaret of Conway, SC, Jacob of Los Angeles, CA, Tyler of Oxford, OH, Isaac of Lexington, KY, and bonus granddaughter, Lilly of Lexington, KY. There are 8 great grandchildren. Also surviving are sister-in-law Nancy Webner of Orrville, Ohio, nieces, a nephew, cousins, brother-in-law Paul Smith of Wake Forest, NC, sister-in-law Shirley Smith of Moultrie, GA and a former daughter-in-law Christa Collins survives as well. Preceding her in death were her parents, her brother Rodney Webner, her grandson Eric Smith, her niece Pam Webner Adams, two brothers-in-law Ron Smith and James Smith and sisters-in-law Nancy Smith and Peg Smith.

Friends may call on Friday, July 15, 2022, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Christ United Methodist Church, 130 E. Walnut Street, Galion, with funeral services on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 10:00 AM with burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1981, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106.

Those wishing to share a memory or send condolences to the Smith family may do so by visiting www.masfh.com.

The Schneider-Gompf Funeral Home, 303 Portland Way North, Galion is honored to serve the family of Mary Sue Smith.