Smith (Zechiel), Florence Naomi

Florence Naomi Smith, died peacefully on March 27, 2021 at Wesley Glen,

Columbus, Ohio. She was born April 20, 1923 in

Alliance, Ohio to Rev. Otto and Hazel Zechiel. She was Salutatorian of her

Sugarcreek-shanesville

High School class and continued her education with a degree in sociology from Heidelberg College in 1945. Primarily called Naomi,

she married Dr. Edwin

Earle Smith in 1944. They became sweethearts in 8th grade and were married for 68 years until Earle passed in 2013 of Alzheimer’s

Disease. During her husband’s final years, Naomi was his faithful caretaker.

While Naomi’s husband was in the Navy, Naomi worked for the Chicago

Tribune and for the Defense

Department as a “Rosie the

Riveter. She later worked first child was born, Naomi became a full time mother.

She volunteered for many community organizations and served as an advisor for her children’s activities.

She was a very active member of North Broadway United

Methodist Church where she served as an altar guild member, circle member, church school teacher and receptionist. Naomi and her husband could frequently be seen riding their tandem bicycle around Clintonville.

She was also an avid swimmer and swam daily until her final years. Naomi was a faithful Ohio State fan and attended Buckeye football games into her mid 90’s. Most of all she loved people, especially her family, who brought her great joy. Naomi is survived by 3 children, Jeffrey

Smith, Cincinnati, Judith (Richard) Martin, Bowling

Green, Kathleen (Alan)

Mcknight, Worthington; grandchildren, Kathleen (Jason) Maney, Cincinnati,

Amy (Michael) Mcavoy,

Frankenmuth, MI, Amanda (Steven) Gloeckner, Hilliard,

Emily Smith, Bethesda, MD,

Mark (Hillary) Mcknight,

Bradenton, FL, Doug (Rheta) Mcknight, Westerville; and 9 great-grandchildren (with a 10th due in August).

Preceding her in death are husband Edwin Earle

Smith, infant son Timothy, daughter-in- law Nannette

Smith, brothers John,

Charles, Walter, Lowell and sister Rosemary Zaugg. The family would like to thank

Tim, Linda, and Brenda of the Activity Staff at Wesley

Glen for their loving care of

Naomi. A private memorial service will held in Sugarcreek,

Ohio. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s

Association of Central Ohio.