Susan Smith

1943 - 2026

Susan Smith was born at Camp Atterbury, Indiana on March 15, 1943, the daughter of then Lt. Robert and Gladys Smith. Susan passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, in Carmichael, California.

As a military child, she accompanied her parents to military posts and assignments in Kentucky, Louisiana, Georgia, Kansas, Washington, DC, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Philippines, before settling in California.

After graduating from high school at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, she attended business school in Hagerstown, MD. Upon graduation, she became a 30-year federal government civilian employee. She worked for the Air Force in Washington, the Navy in Mechanicsburg, PA, the Army's Strategic Communications Command in Okinawa, the Sixth Army Recruiting Office at the Presidio of San Francisco; and for 20 years at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo before retiring in February 1994.

Susan became a Napa resident in June 1973 and was active in the Greater Napa Valley Lion's Club and its predecessor organization for many years. She served two terms as president and was an officer in several capacities during her service. She was also a regular volunteer with her club at The Table, helping to serve meals to the disadvantaged. Susan was an active member of St. Apollinaris Catholic Church since 1973, serving as a lector and Eucharistic minister from 1990-2000.

After the death of her parents in 2011, Susan moved to Little River, CA to be close to her brother, Richard and his wife, Sue (of Mendocino, CA). When Sue and Rich retired and moved to Oregon, Susan moved to an assisted living facility in Santa Rosa and then, in 2025, to the Sacramento area.

Susan will rest at Napa Valley Memorial Park alongside her mother. The family will hold a graveside service at 11 am on April 29th. Any charitable contributions should be directed to St. Apollinaris in Napa. Susan Smith