Martha Ann Smith

Friday, April 25, 2014

Martha Ann Smith, 94, of Roachdale, died April 21, 2014, in a nursing home in Ajijic, Jalisco Mexico.

She was born April 22, 1919, the daughter of Cully and Inez Wilson in Raccoon, Ind.

She attended Raccoon School in Putnam County and transferred to Roachdale School.

As a seventh-grader, she started taking private trumpet lessons from Floyd Thompson and continued playing through high school and college. She played first trumpet in the original IU Coed Band led by Mrs. Vincent Green which is displayed in the Woman's Fife, Bugle and Drum Corp. that performed occasionally with the men's Marching 100 Band at IU football games.

She earned a bachelor's degree from IU and a master's degree from DePauw University. Martha Ann received her teacher's license in 1938 and taught first and second grade at New Maysville and at Roachdale.

Her memberships include the Roachdale Presbyterian Church, Philomath Club, Town and Country Home Extension Club and Indiana Retired Teachers Association.

Martha Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Luther "Luke" Smith in 2000, and five siblings, Howard Wilson, Don Wilson, Dama Porter, John Wilson and Jean Wilson.

Survivors include two children, Dr. Jerry Dee Smith (Sharon), living in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico, and Mark Smith (Ruth), living in Hot Springs Village, Ark. She is also survived by four grandchildren, April and Eric (Jerry) and Shane and Shonda (Mark).

Memorial services are pending.