Obituary of Virginia Rose Smith

Virginia R. Smith, age 87 of rural Unionville, Iowa, formerly of the Tiffin, Iowa City and Amana areas, died peacefully on June 27th, 2021 after a short illness at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Virginia was born Oct. 10, 1934 in rural Johnson County, Iowa, to John L. and Lillie (Curry) Madden. She graduated from Tiffin High School with the class of 1954. She lettered in basketball and earned the very first American Citizenship Award. On October 14, 1955 she married Dale L. Smith from the Tiffin/Oxford area. They met at 16 years old and have been together ever since. Virginia (Smitty) worked as a waitress at the Lark Supper Club in Tiffin, the Red Garter in North Liberty and the Highlander Inn in Iowa City. She took great delight in meeting and getting to rub shoulders with many sports celebrities. After retirement Dale and Virginia moved south to Appanoose County to a farm they cleared by hand and is still up and running. Virginia loved anything to do with the outdoors to include planting flowers, feeding wildlife and 4-wheeling. Surviving is her daughter, Cindy (Smith)Wehr and son-in-law, Todd, 3 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, two sisters Maxine (Madden) Tomash and Margie (Madden) Swenka, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, in August 2020, her parents John and Lillie Madden, and 11 brothers and sisters. A double celebration of life is being held Saturday, September 4, 2021, at the Smith farm, 14700 331st Ave., Unionville, IA, at 2 p.m. for as long as we want it to go, to honor the lives of both Dale and Virginia. Please bring a chair and memories to share. We'll provide beverages and light food. To Share a thought, memory or condolence with her family please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.