Virginia Bertha Smith

Virginia went home to her Lord Jesus Christ on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Walter Smith, and the beloved mother of Timothy Smith, Jeffrey (Jean) Smith, and Kristine (Stephen) Van der Ploeg. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Nicholas Smith, Joshua (Klara) Van der Ploeg, Madeline (nee Smith/John) Shelman, and Jessica Smith; her three great-grandchildren, Anna Van der Ploeg, and Andrew and Michael Shelman; her nephew Philip (Jennifer, Mira) Brady, and her sister-in-law Lois (nee Smith) Schaefer. She was predeceased by her parents, Walter and Eleanor (nee Grebe) Schury and her sister, Kathryn (nee Schury/John) Brady.

She grew up in the Detroit, MI, area, where she won her school and district spelling bees in 1945. She met her husband Walter there while he was serving in the US Air Force, and they were happily married for 68 years.

Virginia was a secretary and worked part time as a typist at her church. Her primary career, though, was as a mother and homemaker.

Virginia and Walter served their churches throughout their entire lives. They were members of Faith Lutheran Church, Livonia, MI, from 1956-2015, and of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Livonia, MI, from 2015 until their respective deaths. She served in various leadership roles in her churches and church women’s organizations, and sang in the choir for decades. She was particularly known for making people feel special by giving them her full and caring attention.

She and Walter loved to travel both nationally and internationally. During several trips abroad, they tracked and located both of their family’s roots in various parts of Germany. They also loved playing bridge, camping, and spending time at their family cottage in Posen, MI, where they were associate members of Leer Lutheran Church. Friends taught them to sail, which led to annual trips to the British Virgin Islands.

Virginia’s life will be celebrated in a memorial service on October 10, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 30650 Six Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48152.The service will also be live streamed on the Holy Cross YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@holycrosslivonia). Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., and luncheon will be served at the church following the service. Please notify Tim Smith (313.689.5956, [email protected]) if you plan to attend the luncheon.

Memorial gifts can be given in Virginia’s name to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 30650 Six Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48152 or to Genesis Lutheran Church/Genesis Hope, 7200 Mack Ave, Detroit, MI 48214