Jo Anne Smith

Jo Anne SMITH, age 89, Jo Anne Smith received her angel wings on June 8, 2020. She passed from this world while in the University of Alabama hospital in Birmingham after a sudden worsening of a chronic illness.

Jo Anne was born November 24, 1930 in Beaver county Pennsylvania to Elbert and Edith Smith who preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by her two sisters Beatrice Mitchell (Norman) and Eileen Bleyer (Julian), daughter Deborah Bostian, son Raymond (Chinkie) Weidner, and grandson, Alexander Tombrello.

She was a loving daughter, mother, sister and grandmother, and she cherished the time spent with her loved ones. Her gentle, generous spirit was evident in her devotion to helping her family and friends.

As a devout Christian, Jo Anne lived according to her beliefs and values, and was a member of several faith-based organizations, to which she made many contributions. In particular, she had an affinity for the St. Jude Hospital for Children.

Jo Anne also had a passion for creative writing that was little known to many. Her fierce patriotism and concern for her fellow man was eloquently expressed through news articles, children's books, and poetry, some of which being published.

Before residing in Alabama, Jo Anne was a revered member of the community in Christiansburg, Virginia, and an outstanding employee of Virginia Tech University, located in Blacksburg, Virginia. She retired with honors in 1997, following over 20 years of service in administration.

Jo Anne is survived by her 2 daughters, Sherry Sanders (Don) and Ramona Montani (Pat).

She was blessed with 13 grandchildren, including Lisa Lovern, Lanny Walters, Janice Tombrello, Cindy Williams, David Hoover, Jamie Phung, Heather Davis, Jason Montani, Jerid Montani, Clinton Weidner, Derek Weidner, Dustin Weidner and Dylan Weidner, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Remarkably, she was also at the head of 5 generations, having been blessed with 19 great grandchildren, and 6 great, great grandchildren!

No memorial service will be held at this time, but a celebration of life will be announced and held in the future.

"What is lovely never dies, but passes into another loveliness."

-Thomas Bailey Aldrich