Obituary of Dorothy E. Smith

Dorothy Eugenia Smith 1926 – 2018
Danielson – Dorothy passed away August 19, 2018 at Westview Health Care Center in Dayville at the age of 91 after a long illness.
Dorothy was born October 20, 1926 to Ray and Christina Smith in North Sterling, CT. Her early schooling was at the one-room Titus School in North Sterling. She graduated from Plainfield High School in 1944. Her first job was during World War II at Majestic Metals in Moosup riveting the keels of Canadian Vicar airplanes and pontoons for seaplanes.  
She looked after her parents and helped with all the chores of their small farm as long as they were alive. She worked later at Arrow Hart and Hegeman for 38 years until her early retirement. At that time, she was then caring for her dear friend, Mildred Pierce, until she also passed. She was a very caring person who found satisfaction in making life better for elderly persons.
She spent many years as a member of the Line Baptist Church teaching Sunday School and as its Superintendent.  Sharing her strong religious beliefs with the youth was very important to her. Another of her talents she used in the church, at fund raisers, and entertainments was her ventriloquist act and magic tricks. She had an assortment of dummy friends--Dondi, Sammy and Russell, just to name a few. Dottie, with Russell, had the unique experience of being on the Sunday morning television show “Community Auditions” and walked away as winners. She also played the guitar and harmonica.
Dottie was proud of the fact that she was a 70-year member of the Highland Grange #113 in South Killingly.
The fact that she flew the American flag daily and followed strict flag protocol indicated her dedication to her country and its flag.  She also loved to predict the weather according to the old-fashioned methods. The birds and other wildlife in her yard were well cared for. She even had a chipmunk that would eat out of her hand.
Her most favorite pastime was bowling. Dottie was a great bowler, especially for her age. In fact, she won the Connecticut Women’s Senior Bowling title not once, but twice, in her lifetime. The first took her to Buffalo, New York in 1996 and the second sent her to Reno, Nevada in 2004 to compete in the Nationals. 
Another of her extracurricular activities was entertaining as a clown. She attended Clown College in Willimantic and adopted the name Loonie. She greatly enjoyed participating in many parades with her puppet Goonie and her Honda clown car. 
Dorothy is the last family member of her generation. She leaves two nieces, Natalie Coolidge and Arlene Houle, and two nephews, Edmond LaFantasie and Harold Arndt; thirteen grand-nieces and nephews and many great-greats.  She was pre-deceased by her parents, her dear friend Mildred Pierce, her brother Carl Smith, her sisters Ruth LaFantasie and Helen Arndt, and a nephew Allen Smith.
A calling hour will be observed on Aug. 21, 2018 at 1 PM at Gagnon & Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, CT. A service will follow at 2 PM at the Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Westfield Cemetery in Danielson.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a Veterans organization of your choice.







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