Dorothy Kendall Smith, 99, peacefully departed this life for her heavenly home May 10, 2010 following a brief illness. Born August 20, 1910 in Lawrence County, the daughter of Findley and Ethel Wilson Kendall, Mrs. Smith was a life-long resident of Lawrence County. She was married to Loyal Wilson Smith for forty three years prior to his death on May 7, 1971.Mrs. Smith spent her childhood on a farm near the present day Castle Hills Golf Course. She and her siblings walked to and from New Castle High School, a ten-mile round trip, until the family moved to the East Brook area. At age sixteen she was valedictorian of the first graduating class of the former East Brook High School.A long-time member of East Brook Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Smith was the first woman elected an elder and among the first women to serve as a deacon. She taught Sunday school for more than fifty years and was active in the Vacation Bible School and Missionary Society programs.In addition to operating a dairy farm in Washington Township, Mrs. Smith was a 4-H leader for thirty three years. She was inducted into the Lawrence County 4-H Hall of Fame in 2010.An advocate of civic involvement, Mrs. Smith was instrumental in the building of the Washington Township Community Center, served as the township's tax collector for eighteen years and was a member of the Board of Elections for thirty five years. She proudly accepted a certificate from the Board recognizing her voting record of fifty consecutive elections.Mrs. Smith was among the first residents of the Greer House assisted-living facility in Neshannock Township. Her sizable doll collection attracted residents and visitors, and her enthusiasm for the facility was the subject of several media publications.Wonderful memories of farm life, family happenings and simple pleasures sustain her children. Her grandchildren, many raised in cities, fondly recall gathering on the farm with a host of cousins for the annual exposure-to-rural-living organized by their doting grandmother during Farm Show week. She crafted quilts for each of her children and grandchildren using remnants from years of 4-H and family sewing projects, and she kept her many family photograph albums updated regularly.Dedication to her faith and family, a Scots-Irish work ethic, humility, patriotism, civic pride and an endearing smile are her legacy for which we, her family, are deeply grateful.She is survived by four children, Dr. Donald L. (Rae Marie) Smith of Ocala, FL; Ruth I. (James) Boyle of Neshannock Township; Richard D. (Joan) Smith of Franklin, TN and Aurora, OH; Carol A. (Walter) Matthews of York, SC. Left to mourn are her beloved twenty three grandchildren, twenty nine great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and a sister, Virginia Ferrell of Childress, TX.Mrs. Smith, one of twelve children, was the sister of the late Raymond, George, Howard, Eugene and Walter Kendall, Agnes Malley, Elizabeth Ferver, Sarah Knight, Margaret McConnell and Thelma Ferver. A son, Robert E. Smith and his wife, Patricia, also preceded her in death.Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the R. Cunningham Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 2429 Wilmington Road, New Castle.A funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, May 13, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Jason Schepp will officiate. Burial will be in East Brook Presbyterian CemeteryIn accordance with Mrs. Smith's wishes, memorial contributions may be made to East Brook Presbyterian Church, 3727 State Road, New Castle, PA 16101 or to the Dorothy Kendall Smith Scholarship Fund, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA 16142.