Sarah 'Ellyn' Smith

Sarah Ellyn Smith was born on June 11, 1926 in Thomasville, Georgia to Glenn and Maggie Alred. While attending Georgia State Womens College in Valdosta, Ellyn met Wendell Smith, the love of her life, at a church picnic in Thomasville.

Wendell returned from the war in 1946 and they were married in Thomasville on June 19 of that year. They moved to the college town of Champaign, Illinois and started a family.

In 1951, Wendell was recalled to active duty in the Air Force and Ellyn began what turned out to be 30 years of service as an Air Force wife. Following Air Force orders, Ellyn and Wendell moved from one part of the country to another. Along the way, while making a new home in city after city, Ellyn brought three children into the world, and was active as a member and leader in the Officers Wives Club, planning charity and social events.

In 1966, Wendell was stationed to service on the island of Guam and Ellyn took on a leadership role in an extremely active gift shop that served the soldiers and sailors who passed through the Air Force base. She travelled to many destinations in Southeast Asia serving as a buyer for that charitable business. One of her favorite stories told of the time she met Bob Hope, who had requested a visit to the Gift Shop while he was performing in a USO show in Guam.

Ellyn and Wendell retired from the Air Force in 1973 and returned to the Illinois town where Wendell had been raised. In her new home in Vermilion County, Ellyn sang with both the Immanuel Lutheran Church choir and the Vermilion Festival Chorus and was active in the Danville Garden club as well as the Immanuel Altar Guild. At the same time, Ellyn began a twenty-year career as a librarian in Danville. After a few years in Danville, she and Wendell built a farm home on family property, where they loved to host family, friends, and especially grandchildren. Ellyn was always the most gracious of hostesses.

Her children will never forget the selfless devotion with which she nursed her husband for years until his death ended 72 years of a devoted marriage. After losing her husband, Ellyn moved to Cincinnati to be close to family. She left us suddenly on June 29, 2021. She leaves her son Richard and his wife, Barbara, her son Craig and his wife Jo Ann, and her daughter Colleen Grogan and husband Dennis as well as 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 12:30 pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church, located at 1930 N. Bowman Ave., in Danville. Her family will be greeting guests prior to the service on Tuesday from 11:00 am until 12:30 pm, also at the church. She will be buried at the Danville National Cemetery next to Wendell. Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center assisted the family with arrangements.