Margaret M. “Peg” Smith, 86, Plymouth, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, peacefully at home with her loving family by her side.

She was born the fifth of 11 children on April 3, 1931, in Marshall County, to John and Alma (Baughman) Bachtel. On Aug. 7, 1948, she became the bride of Ben N. Smith.

Mrs. Smith was loved and endeared by all who knew her. She leaves a legacy of care and service to her family and surrounding community. It was impossible to enter her home and not be served a refreshment or an entire meal because of her great passion for cooking and her love of people.

She had a great love for sewing and quilting and spent countless hours making homemade quilts for all her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time in her flower garden and her home was full of beautiful house plants. She lived a life of purpose and meaning.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith spent many years in the catering business where they touched the lives of many people. Hog roasts were a specialty. She possessed boundless energy and made everyone she met feel important. She lived life with a great zeal and meaning, always the life of the party, always engaging, forever the servant.

She will be deeply missed by those who loved her, especially the love of her life and family. She was a faithful member of the Pine Creek Church of the Brethren.

Those left to cherish her memory are her beloved husband of 69 years, Ben N. Smith, Plymouth; daughter, Linda (Jim) Rozelle, Fort Wayne; three sons: Dan Smith, Knox; Ben (Cheryl) Smith, Mishawaka; Mark (Janice) Smith, Plymouth; also surviving are her 9 grandchildren: Jay and Tom Rozelle; Dan, Randy, Ben and Adam Smith; Amanda Hill; Brooke Shook; Linzy Herron; 22 great-grandchildren, and one extra on the way! Her sisters: Dorothy (Bill) Spier, Sharon Scott, Marilyn (Wayne) Ayers; her brothers: Carl (Pat) Bachtel and David (Marge) Bachtel.

She is preceded in passing by her parents; her granddaughter, Alison Smith; her brothers: Don Bachtel and Harold Bachtel; her sisters: Norma Bachtel, Esther Kovatch and Glenna Disher.

The Van Gilder Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements for the Smith family. A funeral for Mrs. Smith will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, in the Pine Creek Church of the Brethren, 25075 Stanton Road, North Liberty, Indiana 46554, with a one-hour visitation prior to the service, with Pastor Steve Van Houten officiating. Burial will follow in the Morris Cemetery.

A visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25, in the Pine Creek Church of the Brethren, 25075 Stanton Road North Liberty, Indiana 46554.

The Smith family requests memorial contributions be made to the Pine Creek Church of the Brethren, 25075 Stanton Road North Liberty, Indiana 46554.