Loismarie C. Smith

Loismarie is a graduate of William Penn High School and Harrisburg Business College. She married B.J. Smith on August 18, 1942; and he survives. She had worked as a finance director for an auto dealer then Harrisburg Steel Company, leaving to follow her husband in the Army Air Corps. She was then employed as a draftsman with the Southwestern Public Service Company in Amarillo, TX, mapping their power lines for the northwest panhandle of Texas. In those days, mapping was done on linen paper and those that were outdated were disposed of. She took them home, washed out the sizing and had fine linen to make blouses, etc. Her husband, B.J., had the only linen handkerchiefs in the Army Air Corps. They moved to Meadville in 1951 and it was the best choice that could have been made. She worked in her husband's insurance office as well as Merchants Bank and many civic organizations including the Presbyterian Womens Association, Eastern Star, Kiwanis Ladies; and of course, her husband's meals, laundry, and housekeeping for 70 years. Her artwork, done in oils, pastels, and ink were and still are very well done. Many wedding and baby announcements that she "finished" with additional work are still treasured by many friends and relatives. She also taught painting for senior citizen art classes. She enjoyed travelling, especially cruising which included five Atlantic crossings on the QE2 taking five nights and return on the British Concord in only three and a half hours to New York City. After the sale of her husband's agency, they moved to Wesbury purchasing a house in 1986 and strongly urging retiring people to consider a similar move and not waiting until too late.