Retta Ann Smith

Retta Ann Smith, 60, of rural Van Meter died Saturday, December 14, 2013 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, December 19, at the Trinity Lutheran Church near Van Meter with burial in the church cemetery. A visitation with family present will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, December 18 at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset. Memorials may be directed to family. Retta Ann Smith was born in Des Moines on January 28, 1953, the daughter of Virgil T. and Mildred D. (Wishmier) Smith. She was baptized November 1, 1953 and confirmed on June 2, 1968 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Van Meter, where she was a life-long member. She attended school in Van Meter until the age of nine when she suffered a brain tumor and after this, a tutor helped her continue her education at home. She learned brail from the Iowa School of the Blind and attained her G.E.D. She lived independently in the Y.W.C.A in downtown Des Moines for most of her young, adult life. She gave her time, serving as a volunteer for the March of Dimes, Easter Seals and Mercy Hospital and was nominated and received the Governor Award for 5,000 hours of volunteer work in the community. Retta loved listening to music and she enjoyed being outdoors, riding her 3-wheel bicycle and baking cookies. She had a love for writing poetry and painting and two of her pictures went on a tour throughout the state. Retta loved her Savior Jesus Christ and encouraged everyone around her with her faith and determination, never complaining about her disabilities. She was a kind and gentle spirit that loved the Lord and loved the life He had chosen for her. She saw the good in everyone and was such an inspiration by God’s grace because of the way she lived her life; a life of love and contentment in all the Lord handed her. She will be missed dearly. Retta is survived by her siblings, JoAnne Wearmouth of Perry; Norman (Marilyn) Smith of Prole; Shirley (Larry) Ham of Winterset; Marilynn (Dan) Van Zee of Winterset; George Smith of Moscow, ID; Betty (Garry) Westling of Ankeny; Gary (Jodine) Smith of Van Meter; Ron (Cindy) Smith of Adel; and Dennis Smith of Van Meter; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, Russ Wearmouth.