Hilda Mae Smith

Hilda Mae Smith, age 95, of Kalamazoo passed away Friday afternoon, September 20, 2019 at the Plainwell Pines Nursing Center. She was born in Lake City, Michigan on March 17, 1924, the daughter of Hill and Henrietta (Denison) VanRiper. Hilda retired from Gull Lake Community Schools in 1984 after serving more than 23 years as school secretary at the Kellogg Elementary School.

Hilda married Donald L. Smith in Battle Creek on May 29, 1947; he sadly preceded her in death on October 16, 1973. She is survived by her sons, Michael (Karen) Smith of Florida, and Jim (Karen) Smith of Delton; her granddaughters, Rebecca "Becky" (Shaun) Palmer, and Sara Johnson; her great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Claire, Phoebe, Lucy, Madelynn and Cole; and her sisters, Betty Alchin and Beatrice "Beatty" McComb. Hilda was also preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Bernice VanRiper; and four brothers, Vernon, Clare, Carl, and Wayne "Mike" VanRiper.

A memorial service to celebrate Hilda's life will be held 1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 26th at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel, 9170 East D. Ave. (M-89) Richland. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Project Hope Animal Rescue, PO Box 382
Coldwater, MI 49036. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.