Dorothy M. (Gantz) Smith

Dorothy M. Smith, 101, of Wooster passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020 at the Wayne County Care Center after a period of declining health.

Dorothy was born Aug. 26, 1918 in Creston to the late Stanley and Hazel (Knepp) Gantz and was a 1936 graduate of Creston High School.  She had worked at Rubbermaid in Wooster, the Smithville Post Office and had operated her own Beauty Shop in Smithville.  For 32 years she had made her home in Fullerton, California where she was a member of a Square Dancing Club and it was in 1990 she moved back to the Wooster area.  Dorothy was a member of the Smithville United Methodist Church and had been a member of Widow, Widowers and Friends.  She was an avid card player and had been a member of several bridge clubs and was known for her wonderful pies that she baked.  Dorothy will be greatly missed.

Surviving are her son, Tony (Carlene) Smith of Havasu, AZ; her daughter, Lea Ann (Richard) Besancon of Smithville; 11 grandchildren, Rick (Amie) Smith, Kelly Looner, Bill (Sandy) Besancon, Michele (Tim) Koch, Dan (Tonya) Besancon, Frank (Julie) Besancon, Brent (Karrie) Besancon, Burney Besancon and Everett, Aaron and Richard; 26 great-grandchildren, 22 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Lois Evans of Sylva, NC and nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathy, a great-grandson, Gabe Koch, a brother, Russell Gantz and sisters, Frances Beyer, Mary Keltz and Marjorie Sinkora.

Services will be Saturday, Feb. 1st at 11:00 a.m. at Smithville United Methodist Church with Rev. Carolyn Berry officiating.  Burial will be in Smithville Cemetery.  Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at 11:00 a.m.  Tributes may be shared at www.Murray-Funeral-Home.com  Memorial contributions may be made to the Wayne Co. Care Center, 876 S. Geyers Chapel Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 or to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd, Wooster OH 44691.  The family extends the deepest appreciation to the staff of the Wayne County Care Center and to LifeCare Hospice for the wonderful care given to their Mother and Grandmother. 

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