Alice Mae Smith, 83, of Zanesville, Ohio walked through the gates of Heaven to join her Lord and Savior along with her loved ones Saturday, February 15, 2025.
Born May 12, 1941 in Dresden she was the daughter of late Herman and Melba Davis Stratman. Alice was a 1959 graduate of Jefferson High School, and a 1962 graduate of Meredith Business College. She held many secretarial positions including office manager of the family owned business, Smith Hardwoods. After moving to Texas, she worked at the San Saba News & Star as a reporter and proofer.
Alice loved her Lord, church and family. As a pastor’s wife she was heavily involved in church and community activities with her beloved husband Larry who helped form Abundant Life Ministries. After retirement Alice and Larry became more involved in mission work moving to San Saba Texas to be closer to Mexico were Larry helped to build evangelical schools.
Alice always had a joyful voice and loved to sing. She was involved in the Sweet Adaline’s chapter in Zanesville. She later sang with The Singing Women of Texas, West Central Chapter in Texas, and played in the community band. She also volunteered at the San Saba’s Women’s Prison where she directed a choir for the inmates. She received the Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award for her work with the choir in 2015.
After her husband Larry’s death in November 2020, Alice moved back to Zanesville to be closer to her family. She continued her love of writing with her article “Alice in Wonderland” for the Dresden Buzz and San Saba News. She enjoyed delivering the papers to her friends and neighbors, and singing for the residents at Brookdale Nursing Home. Alice fully enjoyed life and always had a big smile for all. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and visiting her granddaughter and great grandchildren in Tennessee.
In her “Alice in Wonderland” articles Alice wrote about her challenges of being a widow, funny stories of getting older, and always ended it with a thoughtful bible verse. Alice has now moved beyond “Wonderland” to her heavenly home to be with her loving husband Larry.
In addition to her parents, Alice was preceded in death by her husband Larry Smith who she married November 17, 1962, and died November 22, 2020; infant children, James Carl and Tamara Lee; two sisters Betty Slate and Rhea Murphy; two brothers Myron Stratman, and Franklin Stratman.
Surviving are her daughters Jennifer (Bill) Crothers; Lisa (Chris) Miller; granddaughter, Michelle (Jim) Kang; great grandchildren, Madison, Camden and Mackenzie Kang; sister-in-law, Flora Noland, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; special friend Juan Cano of Mexico, who lived with Larry & Alice while attending and graduating from San Saba High School.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025 at The Rock Church 4200 Boggs Rd. Zanesville, OH 43701 were friends and family may call from 12pm to 2pm with a service following. Food and fellowship will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Alice’s memory to The Rock Church. A donation basket will also be available at the service.
