Alice Heath Smith's Obituary
Alice Heath Smith
May 28, 1927 to January 18, 2013
Alice Heath Smith, of Cutler Bay, FL. died peacefully on January 18, 2013, at home. Born in Meriden, CT, on May 28, 1927, Alice was the daughter of Walter R. and Minnie (Bee) Heath and the sister of Mary B. Heath, of Yalesville, CT, all predeceased. When she was 14 years old, Alice attended a church youth fellowship group where she met Edward Smith who thought her "the prettiest and brightest girl he had ever met." They were married the day following her 21st birthday. Throughout their 64 years of marriage, Alice and Ed enjoyed the company of their family and friends, working together on community service projects, golfing, vacations on Cape Cod and summers boating and entertaining at their lake cottage in Western Massachusetts. Alice graduated with honors from Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford, CT, and attended the University of Connecticut. A highly artistic and creative person, Alice was an accomplished watercolor artist. She exhibited her paintings in galleries throughout South Florida, was a member of the Miami Watercolor Society and served as president of the Homestead (FL) Art Association. Alice founded and was an active participant in the East Ridge Village Crafters and also served on the Board of Directors of East Ridge Retirement Village. For nearly two decades prior to her retirement in 1985, Alice was the executive director of the Meriden-Wallingford (CT) Chapter of the American Red Cross to which she and her husband devoted innumerable volunteer hours. Alice leaves her devoted husband, Edward H. Smith, of Cutler Bay, FL, her daughter, Rae Smith Burnham, also of Cutler Bay, her daughter, Kathy E. Smith and son-in-law, William W. Durgin, of San Luis Obispo, CA, and Waquoit, MA, and her two loving grandsons, William S. Durgin, of Washington, D.C., and Edward H. Burnham, of Cutler Bay, FL. A service celebrating her life will be held at East Ridge Retirement Village Chapel, 19301 SW 87th Ave., Cutler Bay, FL, on Saturday, January 26 at 4:00 p.m. Van Orsdel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements, www.vanorsdel.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross, PO Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA 50340-2018, www.redcross.org/Donation, or to Christ Congregational Church, 14920 SW 67th Ave., Palmetto Bay, FL 33158.
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