Smith, Ruth 'Shirley'

Ruth “Shirley” Smith, 86, of Olin, formerly of Anamosa, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids. Funeral service: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion. The family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, at the funeral home. Burial: Mount Clark Cemetery, Central City.

Survivors include her children, Judith (Tim) Sargent of Olin, Wendy (Doug) Bieber of Anamosa, George (Deb) Smith of Cedar Rapids, Eileen (Terry) Marsh of Anamosa, Denise (Clint) Phillips of Anamosa, Lisa Smith of Anamosa, and Nancy (Joe) Chamberlin of Olin; 22 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two daughters, Barbara Glick, and Terry Burgess; and one granddaughter.

Shirley was born Nov. 5, 1926, in Springville, Iowa, the daughter of Warren and Eleanor (Ralston) Carpenter. She married Lowell Lee Smith on March 17, 1946. Lowell died Nov. 13, 2000. Shirley worked as an inspector with Rockwell Collins for 23 years. She was a member of a very large family and had 12 siblings. She enjoyed reading, working puzzles, crocheting, and watching hummingbirds. Shirley especially loved fishing and traveling to Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Please sign the online guest book for Shirley at under obituaries.

Published Jan. 4, 2013 in The Gazette