Evelyn Rich Smith

August 27, 2011

Evelyn Mae (Rich) Smith, 98, of Elbridge, passed away peacefully on Saturday. Mrs. Smith was a native of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY. She lived over 75 years in Camillus, Syracuse, Skaneateles and then Elbridge. She was a descendant of Nicholas Rich, who came to this country in the early 1600's. Mrs. Smith graduated from Albany State Normal School in 1935, and began six years of teaching business subjects (business math, shorthand, typing, etc.), economics and art at Camillus High School. She later worked many years as an accountant for Westvale Tool and Machine Design Company. She was a tutor; a Girl Scout leader; past president of Westvale Garden Club; past president of the Rich Family Association; member of Central New York Genealogical Society; past member of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists; and member of the New England Historical Genealogical Society. She was, for six years, until the age of 90, volunteer librarian at the Spafford Reading Center. Mrs. Smith was predeceased by her husband of more than 50 years, James Eric Smith, of the Westvale Tool and Machine Design Company. She is survived by two daughters, Susanne (Thomas) Engle, of Clayton, NY, and Linda Springstead, of Alexandria Bay, NY. She has five grandchildren: Eric (Amanda Mavis) Miller, Lake Placid, NY; J. Martin Miller, Clayton, NY; Bethany Phillips, Chittenango, NY; Carrie (Mark) Johnson, Plantation, FL; James (Melissa) Blackmer, Fort Wayne, IN. Mrs. Smith has eight great grandchildren: Cayleigh Phillips; Addison Phillips; Brayden Phillips; Jordan Phillips; Abigail Johnson; Amanda Johnson; Timothy Blackmer; Matthew Blackmer. She is survived by the three spouses of her siblings: Francis O'Connor, Schaghticoke, NY; Richmond Young, Delmar, NY; Annette Rich, Houston, TX, and by eleven nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 11 am Wednesday in Lakeview Cemetery, Skaneateles. Contributions may be made to the Elbridge Fire Department. Arrangements by the B.L. Bush & Sons Funeral Home, Camillus. Please sign guestbook at www.BLBUSH.com