Maxine Smith

On Tuesday, 18 October 2022, the angels came for Maxine Riddle Smith, 95 years old, of Glenville, West Virginia to be with her God.

Maxine was born Meredith Maxine Riddle on 1 July, 1927 in Glenville, West Virginia. While attending Glenville State College, she met James Nelson Smith. After both graduated college with teaching degrees, she and Nelson were married (1947). They spent the bulk of their life in Melbourne, Florida where Maxine taught school and she earned her Master’s Degree in Guidance from Stetson University in Deland, Florida. The family, including their daughters Susan Vrba and Paula Mazzagotte, lived there until she and Nelson retired back to Glenville in 1990. Nelson proceeded her in death on 25 February, 2005.

Maxine was a leader in many organizations: Delta Kappa Gama Florida Chapter, Marthas and Marys, Farm Bureau, Tanner High School Reunion, and Kanawha CEOS in Gilmer County, WV. She was also an active member of the Glenville Methodist Church.

Maxine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She will be missed by her remaining family members: daughter Susan and her husband Colonel (ret) John Vrba and their children Sean Jones and his wife Megan, Madeline Franklin and her husband Jordan, and Todd Vrba and his wife Alison. Also, remain are grandson Anthony Frye and 3 great grandchildren Carson and Jacob Franklin and Lillian Jones. Maxine was proceeded in death by her daughter, Paula Mazzagotte on 14 December, 2020 and her sister, Caroline Cusick on 7 December, 2020.

Maxine’s request for cremation has been honored and a memorial service will be conducted at the Ellyson Mortuary, Inc., 2 Vanhorn Drive, Glenville, WV 26351 at 1:00 PM; Saturday, November 5, 2022 with Rev. Mike Ford officiating. Following the memorial service Maxine will be laid to rest by her husband in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Wallback, WV; Friends will be received from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Saturday November 5, at the mortuary in Glenville.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Tanner High School Scholarship Fund to Joan Moyers, 5608 Chestnut Lick Road, Perkins, WV 26636.

Ellyson Mortuary, Inc., is honored to assist the family of Maxine Smith with cremation arrangements.