Madonna Smith

September 9, 1927 - August 26, 2009

Sept. 9, 1927 - Aug. 26, 2009 Madonna Victoria Smith, 81, of Albany died Wednesday at the Mennonite Home, surrounded by her family. She was born to Frank and Agnes Hartshorn Wombold on a farm in Dayton, Ohio, where she spent most of her childhood. Her mother died when Madonna was 12, and she had to take on the role of helping raise her younger brother, Charles "Bud." In 1943, she married Robert G. Smith while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. They had nine children together. In 1963, they moved to southern California, and, after raising her children, she moved to Albany, where she spent the remainder of her life. Madonna was a homemaker most of her life, and enjoyed helping with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She liked doing crossword puzzles, quilting, and trips to the coast and casinos, and one of her favorite TV shows was "Wheel of Fortune." She also had a great love for spiritual music. Most of all, she loved her children and family. She was preceded in death by her sons William and Douglas. Survivors include her sons Robert, James, Thomas and Charles; daughters Vicki Taylor, Shelly Pedrino and Kimberly Smith; brother, Charles "Bud" Wombold; sisters Connie Loveless, Cindy Swank, Marsha Wombold and Marlene Hayslip; 16 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.