Ellen Ruth Isbell Smith

Homewood

Ellen Ruth Isbell Smith, 95, of Homewood, passed away Oct. 14, 2012. She was born in Columbiana on Aug. 24, 1917, to James Laney and Samantha Isbell. She was the last of nine children. She was a popular coed at Howard College, where she graduated in 1939. She met Coach Hugh W. Smith, a WWII combat veteran, and married him in 1951. The couple had three children, Susan Sims of Wilmington, N.C., Sally Smith and Hugh Smith Jr. of Birmingham. Mrs. Smith was physical education teacher and guidance counselor at Ensley High School for 25 years. She was also the faculty coach for the cheerleading squad at Ensley for many years. She and Mr. Smith were members of First Baptist Church of Birmingham, where she used to sing in the choir.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, her parents and seven of her siblings. She is survived by one sister, Adell Edmondson of Columbiana; her children; her daughter-in-law, Kay; her granddaughter, Rebecca Ellen Sims (Daniel Cook) of Wilmington, N.C.; grandson, Henry Smith of Birmingham; great-granddaughter, Bailey Cook of Wilmington, N.C.; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. They will always remember her for her kindness, her gentle charm and down-to-earth humor.

Visitation will be held at Bolton Funeral Home on Oct. 17 from 1-2 p.m. Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. at Bolton Funeral Home with burial in Columbiana City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to South Highlands Presbyterian Church Adult Day Care Center in Birmingham or to Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama foundation.