Linda S. Smith, 73, of Wabash, Indiana, went to her Heavenly home at 6:49 pm, Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Parkview Health Randallia in Fort Wayne. She was born on October 30, 1952, in Paintsville, Kentucky, to Everett Sr. and Verla (Mollett) Crum.
Linda married James A. Smith in Paintsville, Kentucky, on June 22, 1968, beginning a partnership she cherished throughout her life. She made her career at Vernon Manor Children’s Home, where she retired after 28 years of dedicated service.A resident of Wabash since 1967, Linda was a former member of the Wabash Free Will Baptist Church and later a devoted member of Christian Heritage Church.She found joy in simple pleasures—reading, attending auctions, and browsing rummage sales. Linda loved collecting purses, taking drives, and making her well-known potato salad. Above all, she adored her husband, who remained the center of her world.
She is survived by her husband, James A. Smith of Wabash; two children, James Brian (Michelle) Smith of Wabash, and Sherry (Trent) Watson of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, Amanda Brown, Aaron Brown, Allison (Austin) Keen, Emily Smith, Sarah Smith, Victoria Watson, Kaitlyn Sue Reynolds, Joseph Reynolds, and Adam (Lindsey) Smith; great-granddaughter Kaia Keen; brother, Everett (Jackie) Crum, Jr. of Williamsport, Kentucky; sister, Carol F. (Robert) Mollett of Wabash; and sister-in-law Henrietta Smith of Marion, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings Harold Mills, Thomas Mills, Betty Bridgman, and Doris Crum.
Funeral services will be 10:00 am Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with Pastor Tim Prater officiating. Entombment will be in Chapel of Remembrance at Memorial Lawns Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 2-4 pm Monday, April 27, 2026 at the funeral home.
The preferred memorial for Linda is Christian Heritage Church.
The memorial guest book for Linda may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Linda S. Smith, please visit our floral store.