Columbus
Smith F. Snively, 84, of Columbus, died at 10:20 p.m., May 11, 2017, at Silver Oaks Health Campus.
Smith was born Sept. 21, 1932, the son of Smith W. and Carrie Voelz Snively. He married Henrietta Moeller June 30, 1956, in Forest Park, Illinois.
He graduated from Columbus High School in 1950, received a B.S. in Education from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois, in 1955, and a M.S. in Elementary Administration from Butler University, Indianapolis, in 1959. He continued his studies, receiving additional graduate hours at Indiana University.
Smith held various positions in the education field which included teaching at Emmaus Lutheran School, Indianapolis, from1955-1960; principal at Zion Lutheran School, Decatur, from 1960- 1966; and teacher at Schmitt Elementary School, Columbus, from 1967 – 1969. He served as an elementary school principal in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, from 1969-1994 at Jefferson and Garfield Elementary Schools, State Street Elementary School, Fodrea Community School and F. Smith Elementary School.
He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church where he held various offices including chairman, Board of Education, Board of Elders, Trustees and personnel director. Smith was a former board member of Columbus Indiana Philharmonic where he served as chairperson of the education team and education consultant. He also was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, education honorary, former board member of Leadership Bartholomew County and former member and president of the Columbus and Decatur Lions Club.
The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m., Friday, May 19, 2017, at Grace Lutheran Church with the Pastor John Armstrong officiating. Calling will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at Grace Lutheran Church for friends and family immediately following the committal.
Memorials may be made to the Grace Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church Foundation, Bartholomew County Humane Society or the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Education Fund through the funeral home.
Survivors include his wife, Henrietta; children, Ellen M. (Dennis) Newkirk of Columbus and Paul L. (Amy) Snively of North Hills, California; step-grandchildren, Denise Norris of Miami, Florida and Devon Stewart of Walnut Creek, California; three step-great-granddaughters; and two step-great-great-granddaughters.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
You are invited to view his video tribute after 4 p.m. Thursday, light a virtual candle and send a message to the family via the internet.
