Agnes Farmer Smith, 88 of Newark, passed away peacefully to be with our Lord on May 22nd, 2014.
Agnes was born and raised in Bolt, West Virginia – a town founded by her Great Grandfather, John Joshua Farmer (1801-1901). Agnes was the first of five children born to A.A. & Icie Farmer. Agnes grew up milking the cows and doing chores before walking several miles to their one-room schoolhouse. Beautiful, bright and independent, Agnes was elected Homecoming Queen at Trap Hill High School in 1941. She had met her future husband, William T. (Bill) Smith, Jr. by then, but he joined the USMC at age 16 during WWII. Agnes attended Concord College (Athens, WV) briefly, then transferred to Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, where she received her B.S. in Education in 1948. A year later, after his return from being wounded in the battle of Iwo Jima, Bill and Agnes were married June 6, 1949. Agnes taught kindergarten in West Virginia before moving on to math at the High School and Jr. High levels throughout her 38-yr teaching career, including Ogletown Middle School and Newark High School. She received a Masters +45 in Education from the U of D. She remained a lifelong Ohio State football fan.
After teaching for several years in WV, the couple moved to Delaware in 1959 (at the suggestion of relatives already there) where there were better job opportunities. Bill missed the mountains of WV – Agnes did not, but on any school vacation they would head back to WV to visit. Agnes was widowed in 1969 when Bill suffered a fatal heart attack on one of those WV visits; she never remarried. Agnes was a leader and role model in her church, Calvary Baptist Church, since becoming a member in 1959. A highlight of her life was touring Israel with a group from her church in 1999. Agnes was a dedicated and generous follower of her Lord Jesus Christ. She had a simple philosophy of life: “I try to live simply, so others can simply live.”
Agnes is survived by two children: Nancy S. Widdoes (Pete) of Landenberg, PA, and Thomas A Smith (Diane) of Lenexa, KS; Grandchildren are Aaron William Widdoes, Courtney Agnes Widdoes, Austin Josiah Smith and Kristen Joy Smith. They were the joy of Agnes’ life – and an important part of her legacy. Agnes is also survived by a sister – Annette Carter (Wallace) of Newark, and brother – Charles Farmer (Patricia) of Phoenix, AZ and many nieces and nephews, whom she also loved very much. She was preceded in death by her parents, A.A. and Icie Farmer; her husband, W.T. Smith, Jr. (1969), a brother – Alvin Farmer (2012); and a sister – Arlene White (2014). The family extends its gratitude to the staff and Dr. Kutateladze at Millcroft in Newark for their compassionate care.
A celebration of the life of Agnes Smith will be held on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at Calvary Baptist Church, 215 E. Delaware Av, Newark, DE. Visitation with the family will be at 4:00 pm, and the service will begin at 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Calvary Baptist Church. Donations in her honor can also be made to the church via R.T. Foard & Jones Funeral Home, 122 West Main St., Newark, DE 19711.