Helen L Smith

Helen Laura Smith (née Carrell), age 97, of Columbus, OH, passed away December 29, 2024 at Mount Carmel Saint Ann’s Hospital after a brief illness.

She was born November 7, 1927 in Columbus, Ohio. Helen graduated from Linden McKinley High School in 1945. Following graduation, she worked at the Farm Bureau until she left to focus on raising her family. Helen met the love of her life, Francis (Bo) Smith, former Deputy Chief of the Columbus Police Department and Chief of the Obetz Police Department, in junior high school and they were married in 1950.

Helen had many friends from her involvement in the police community, and her active membership in Franklin United Brethren Church in New Albany. She always welcomed guests to her house, from competitive Euchre nights in the basement to family gatherings where no one went home hungry. Following his retirement from the police force, Helen and Bo enjoyed many travels around the country with friends in their tour group. More recently she could be found chasing her great grandsons Max and Sam around the house playing hide-and-seek with far more energy than people half her age.

She is preceded in death by her father, George Carrell; mother and stepfather, Viola Adell and John Barker; her husband Francis (Bo) Smith; sister and best friend Virginia McVay; brother-in-law Rich McVay; and daughter Vicki McCandlish. Helen is survived by her daughter Marla Ann Smith; her grandchildren Joseph McCandlish and Dr. Andrew (Gale) McCandlish; great grandsons Max and Sam McCandlish; and many nieces, nephews, and grand- and great-grandnieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 7 at Newcomer Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, at 3047 E Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43231. Visitation at 10:00am until the time of service at 11:00am. The burial will take place immediately following at Blendon Central Cemetery. Please feel free to share your memories or leave a condolence message.