Helen Louise Smith-Steele

Helen Louise “Hug” Smith-Steele, age 95, passed away at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, FL surrounded by her family on Tuesday September 24, 2019.

Helen was born on August 17, 1924 in Dubois Pennsylvania to Aldridge and Susanne Huggan. Helen went to school in DuBois then moved with her family to Buffalo, NY where she completed high school and attended college where she met her first husband Dr. Ballard F. Smith, MD. Bal attended medical school at SUNY Buffalo. They were married April 1, 1945. Together they had 3 children: Ballard F. Smith, Jr MD of Bradenton, FL; Craig A. Smith, PhD of Carlsbad, CA, and Bonnie Smith Burnett of Canton, GA.

In November 1974 Helen married Leonard B. Steele of Atlanta and together they enjoyed 45 blissful years together as active pilots, world travelers, and active community members. Helen was a resident of Fort Lauderdale, FL for 64 yrs.

Some of Helen’s many passions and accomplishments included the fields of aviation, real estate, and athletics. In the field of aviation as President of the Florida Women’s Pilot Association, the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots, and member of the Aviation Industrial Board of the Ft. Lauderdale airport. In real estate Helen enjoyed a long and successful career in South Florida holding a Brokers license for over 40 years and in athletics Helen won numerous singles and doubles club tennis championships.

Helen is survived by her beloved husband Leonard of 45 years, sons Craig Smith and Ballard Smith, daughter Bonnie Smith Burnett, sister Suzanne Scheer of Catlett, VA, grandsons Bradley Smith and Bentley Smith, granddaughter Sommer Smith, great grandson Bradley Smith Jr., step children Brent Steele, Gini Steele, Shelly Steele Moses, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by her sister Mary Margaret Gaffney Theile of Malvern, PA.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Helen will take place on Friday, November 1, 2019 at Broward Burial and Cremation (1801 E. Oakland Park Blvd, Oakland Park, FL 33306) from 2-4 pm.