Joanne Lee (Hinkle) Smith, 84, formerly of Somerset, Ohio, and Coaldale, Colorado, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016.
She was born April 27, 1932, in Sandusky, to Samuel Frank and Ella Nora (Livingston) Hinkle.
Joanne graduated from Ashville High School, Ashville, in 1950, where she was drum majorette for the band.
Her family owned and published the Pickaway County News. Many of her teen and early adult years were spent working the linotype, setting type, proofreading and writing articles for the paper.
She attended Capital University from 1950-1952 and continued Round-Robin letters for 64 years with many close school friends.
She worked for the State of Ohio Department of Taxation until moving to Somerset.
Joanne married the late Dr. Robert Lee Smith, the son of Kenneth G. and Lillie Ann (Paskell) Smith, Aug. 23, 1952, at the First English Lutheran Church in Ashville. They were married 61 years and had two daughters, Teresa Cathers of Reynoldsburg and Beverly Taylor of Gallatin, Tennessee.
She worked with her husband, Bob, in his veterinary practice beginning in early 1957, performing functions as receptionist, accounting, billing, assisting and supporting the practice. Bob retired in 1988 and they built a home in the mountains near Coaldale, Colorado. They spent many years traveling between Ohio and Colorado.
She loved cooking meals and entertaining friends and family. Joanne was a life-long Lutheran, served as Sunday school teacher, led Junior Lutherans, loved singing with the church choirs, served the Somerset Elementary PTA, was a member of the Safford Child Conservation League and enjoyed ceramics.
Joanne is survived by her daughters, Teresa Cathers and Beverly (Michael) Taylor; grandsons, Kenneth Taylor of Henderson, Tennessee, Daniel Taylor of Reno, Nevada, Philip Cathers of Reynoldsburg and Scott Cathers of Lancaster; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Robert Smith; parents, Samuel and Nora Hinkle; sisters, Betty Patrick and Dorothy Miller; and brothers, Dr. Frank Hinkle and William Hinkle.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, at the Bope-Thomas Funeral Home, 203 S. Columbus St., Somerset. Rev. Karen Martin Kepner will officiate the funeral service at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12, 2016, at the Somerset United Methodist Church, 139 E. Main St., Somerset, with viewing at 10 a.m. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Reber Hill Cemetery, 16810 Winchester Rd., Ashville.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
