Elizabeth Smith Obituary

Elizabeth Jane Smith

Oct 6, 1927 - Feb 12, 2024

Sandusky

Elizabeth Jane "Betty" (Gerhart) Smith, 96, of Sandusky, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Monday morning, Feb. 12, 2024, at Parkvue Care Center, Sandusky.

She was born Oct. 6, 1927, in Mogadore, to Joseph and Jane (Darby) Gerhart. She attended St. Joseph grade school in St. Joseph, Ohio, before moving to Sandusky in 1939. She graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1945. Betty attended Notre Dame College on partial scholarship, graduating in 1949. She worked as a first-grade teacher at Hancock School from 1949-1953. She married Victor F. Smith on Nov. 7, 1953, at St. Mary's Church and the couple had six children, 15 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Betty was a homemaker who volunteered often at Ohio Veterans Home. She had a strong Catholic faith and enjoyed defending it at every opportunity, as well as attending daily Mass until it became too difficult in later years. If she had been born in a different time, she would have made a great engineer, as she was constantly solving problems in her head. Some of the "inventions" she came up with (years before their actual introduction) include the four-wheeled tractor, vinyl fencing and siding, and dental implants. She was rarely seen in her adult life without an apron on and was very generous. Anyone who visited her had to be wary of complimenting anything in her house as they would be told to take it home with them.

She is survived by her children, Jane (Edward Braun), Connie (Jeff Mansell), Phil (Mary Pat), Teresa (Larry Bogner), Richard, and Michael; 15 grandchildren, Angela and Fr. Stephen Braun, Matthew and Patrick Mansell, Meghan, Mark (Kristin), Timothy, Kevin, John, Jeffrey, and Andrew Smith, Brian (Kate) Bogner, Laura (Marcus Schlett), Katherine (Dylan Orwig), and Elizabeth (Aaron Sykes); nine great-grandchildren, Claire, Jameson, and Emily Orwig, Grayson, Nora, and Blakeley Smith, Thea and Evelyn Schlett, and Ava and Julie Bogner; sisters, Jeanie Roth and Joan Magnuson; sister-in-law, Yvonne Andrew; and many nieces and nephews.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Victor in 2018; great-grandson, Cohen Schlett; parents; brother, Gregory Gerhart; and three sisters, Frances Hoffman, Kathleen Russell, and Mary (Chum) Roth.

Visitation for family and visitors will be 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, until Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 429 Central Ave., Sandusky. Fr. Prashanth Kumar will officiate. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Sandusky.

Those wishing to make donations may do so to their favorite charity.

Arrangements have been entrusted to David F. Koch Funeral and Cremation Services, 520 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky.

Your memories and words of comfort may be shared with Betty's family at davidfkoch.com.

"God bless you abundantly."