Smith, Emma Harpold
Passed: 1928-05-30
Age: 60
Source: Ravenswood News
Death Notice:
Obituary Date: 1928-06-07
Information: IT IS ENOUGH So the Master spoke to Mrs. Emma Harpold Smith at eleven forty o'clock the night of May 30, 1928, and the laboring heart ceased to beat. Mrs. Smith was born in what was known as ""the old house"" which stood on the same lot where the later house was built in which she died. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Selinda Harpold, the latter being the only sister of the late John A. McIntosh. From early girlhood she was the confidant and helper of her mother and untiring in her devotion to her four brothers, all younger than herself. On January 1, 1890, she was married to William Smith of Portsmouth, Ohio, who came here to make his home. Two daughters blessed their union, who, with their father, survive her--Mrs. Wm. T. Dent, of Marietta, Ohio, and Mrs. Harry Hoffman of Williamstown. Mrs. Dent, who was twice married, had two sons, Charles William Gillilan and Thomas Dent. Charles, her first grandchild, has lived with his grandparents since babyhood, and, her brothers and daughters married, on him Mrs. Smith lavished the devotion of her warm and generous heart. When last week he brought to her the diploma which he won as a graduate of the Ravenswood High School, she felt that her life work was complete. For several years Mrs. Smith had been failing in health and strength and two weeks ago suffered a slight stroke of paralysis which hastened the end. For over thirty years Mrs. Smith had been a member of the Baptist church of Ravenswood and a member of the Rebekah Lodge, I. O. O. F. She was for many years past treasurer of the lodge, holding that office at the time of her death and often represented the lodge in the state meetings. She was also a charter member of the Womans Club of Ravenswood, organized in 1915 and her faithful loyalty to that organization never wavered. But Mrs. Smith was loyal in every relation of life. Her family, her church, her lodge, her club and her friends always found her true and faithful, giving to each the best she had to give. Beside her husband, two daughters and two grandsons, Mrs. Smith leaves three devoted brothers--W. A. and H. E. Harpold of Ravenswood and Ed Harpold of Belpre, Ohio--one brother, Frank O., having preceded her in death. Mrs. Smith had a most remarkable memory and was often consulted in regard to town, church, family and social happenings in the past and never once did she fail to supply the needed dates, details, happenings to all the sixty years of her life. She spent most of the past winter with her devoted daughter, Mrs. Mabel Hoffman in Williamstown, whose tireless care and love for her mother never failed, and whose devotion eased her last months as nothing else could have done. At. Mrs. Hoffman's home, Mrs. Smith's husband, children, grandchildren, brothers, nephew, all gathered on her last birthday, February 15, to honor her in celebration of that date. All of Mrs. Smith's life was not sunshine but she was a brave soldier and met trouble unflinchingly. As a citizen of Ravenswood she stands out prominently and will be much missed. Her place will be hard indeed to fill. Funeral services were conducted on Saturday afternoon, June 2, at her home by Rev. Kelley, Baptist minister from Parkersburg, and the tired body laid to rest in the Ravenswood cemetery, surrounded by quantities of lovely, fragrant flowers, testimonials of the love and respect in which she was held.--""Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord"" (copied from the newspaper at Washington's Western Lands Museum, Ravenswood)