Letha Joan Smith

In Loving Memory of

Letha Joan Smith ("Joanie")

February 11, 1942 – January 19, 2026

Letha Joan Smith ("Joanie"), age 83, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2026, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Joanie was born on February 11, 1942, in Camden, New Jersey, the only child of Joe and Letha Nina von der Hayden. Tragically, her mother passed away one day after Joanie's birth due to complications from Type I diabetes. Joanie was lovingly raised by her maternal grandparents, William and Grace Sherman, and enjoyed close relationships with her half-siblings, Doris and Joe Jr.

Despite physical challenges resulting from a premature birth and contracting polio at a young age, Joanie lived her life with joy, resilience, and grace. She was known for her quick smile, gentle spirit, and kind words for everyone she met.

In 1965, Joanie married Raymond Fuller Smith, Jr., who had also experienced the effects of polio as a young man-and who proudly shared her height of 4'11". Together, Joanie and Ray were deeply involved in their church community. Joanie played the piano for Sunday services, and the couple formed meaningful bonds with many young people in the congregation, often serving as role models and surrogate parents through the years.

While living in Houston, Texas, Joanie worked for NASA in the typing pool, where in 1969, she helped transcribe the historic words of the Apollo 11 astronauts as they landed on the moon. Joanie and Ray later spent most of their working years employed by the State of Connecticut in Hartford. Ray passed away from cancer in 1989, and Joanie retired in 2003.

Drawn by her love of warmer weather, Joanie moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in 2009. There, she enjoyed close relationships with extended family and built lasting friendships. She will be remembered as a strong woman of faith, a gentle soul who loved to laugh, and someone who always had a kind smile for everyone she encountered-truly living up to her cherished nickname, "Sweet Joanie."

Survived By

Joanie is survived by her nephew and niece, Jim and Beth Smith, who had the privilege of loving and caring for her in her final years. She is also survived by her siblings Doris von der Hayden, Joe Jr. von der Hayden and his wife Kathleen, her beloved cousin Diane Urch, her sister-in-"love" Carol Jean Smith, sister-in-law, Sharon Smith, and nephews Kevin Smith, Aaron Smith, and Matthew von der Hayden.

Predeceased By

Joanie is predeceased by her husband, Raymond Fuller Smith, Jr. in 1989 and her brother-in-law Robert Arthur Smith in 2020.

Final Arrangements

While Joanie did not wish to have a memorial service, she will be celebrated by friends and family at her favorite restaurant in mid-February. She will be interred in Eglington Cemetery in Clarksboro, New Jersey, this Spring.