Nancy J. Smith
Nancy J. Smith, age 78, of Columbia City, Ind., passed away at 9:45 a.m. Friday, May 13, 2016, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.
The year 1938 overflowed with mixed blessings in America. While the U.S made great economic strides following the hardships of the Great Depression, an unwelcome recession found unemployment rates once again reaching drastic levels. During these changing times in the rural city of Wabash, the birth of Nancy J. Mettler on February 15, 1938, filled her parent’s hearts with joy. The daughter of Maurice and Esther (Circle) Mettler, Nancy grew up alongside her siblings, Tom and Carol.
Living on their small farm in Wabash offered Nancy many adventures as a young girl. She especially enjoyed spending time with her cousins in Hoagland, and by the time Nancy entered high school, her family moved from Wabash to Arcola. An outgoing girl, Nancy enjoyed the friendships of many throughout her youth. She attended Arcola High School, graduating with the Class of 1956. After high school, Nancy attended a year at International Business College for accounting. She married for a time, and while living in Churubusco, she became the loving and devoted mother to her two children, DeLaina and Tim.
For over 27 years, Nancy worked at GTE in Ft. Wayne where she made numerous, close friends. When she eventually retired in 1991, Nancy held the position of cost accountant. After retiring, she had more time to take in the things she enjoyed and spend with those she dearly loved.
It was during these years working at GTE when Nancy met the love of her life, William Smith. They were married on April 12, 1974, in Columbia City. Bill had children of his own before becoming widowed and together they became one big combined family. With eight children between them, Nancy and Bill loved all their kids as if they were each their own.
Family was Nancy and Bill’s top priority and together they made a loving home for their children. They moved to the Big Lake area following their marriage and since 1979, it has been their forever home. There they shaped their family’s lives in faith as members of Eel River Baptist Church and together they enjoyed memorable holidays and other treasured times.
A wonderful cook, Nancy also enjoyed baking, making candy, and canning vegetables from her garden. Nancy was quite talented in many respects. She was also a member of the Sigma Phi Gamma Nu Theta Chapter in Columbia City, having held many positions including past president. She and Bill, along with a few other couples, were the founders of the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 4717 in Wolf Lake, and was a member of their Ladies Auxiliary.
In addition to her many interests, Nancy enjoyed traveling with friends. She took a week each year traveling with them across the U.S. for over 20 years before Bill became ill around 2009. Nancy tenderly and lovingly cared for Bill until her life was forever changed on November 11, 2012, when the love of her life passed away. Following Bill’s death, life simply wasn’t the same for Nancy. She placed all her efforts into her unending love of family, and she continued on the best she could.
Survivors include her children: DeLaina Cole of Columbia City; Tonya (Bob) McKay of Rochester; Vicky (Mike) Tallent of Maryville, Tenn.; Tammy (Steve) Parkison of Crown Point; Deb (Jeff) Zickafoose of Albion; Doug Smith of Columbia City; and Dave (Kate) Lotter of Churubusco; brother:Tom “Butch” (Cindy) Mettler of Columbia City; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Bill Smith; son: Tim Wagner; sister: Carol Lehman; grandsons: Jonathan Zickafoose and Clint Collier; infant grandson: Christopher Parkison.
Visitation is Tuesday, May 17, 2-3:45 and 6-7:45 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with a service performed by the VFW Wolf Lake Ladies Auxiliary at 4 p.m. and a sorority service performed by Sigma Phi Gamma Nu Theta Chapter at 8 p.m.
Her funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 18, at the funeral home with Certified Funeral Celebrant Sharon Brockhaus officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Thorn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given in her memory to the Sigma Phi Gamma Nu Theta Chapter in Columbia City or to the Wolf Lake VFW.