Marlborough – Mildred Marie (Pinkston) Smith, 88, returned to be with the Lord Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011. Marie, as she was known to family and friends, was a resident at Marlborough Hills Health Center for the past year, lost her longtime battle with cancer and passed away peacefully in her sleep.
Born in 1923, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, she was the last surviving child of Frederick and Ruth Pinkston. She lived her early life in Castleford, Idaho until her high school graduation, when she moved to Los Angeles and worked in a factory making parachutes to aid in the war effort.
It was there that she met the late Edward “Ed” Smith, while he was serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aerial photographer. After the war, Ed returned to his home state of Vermont and Marie traveled alone, cross-country, by bus from Los Angeles to Starksborough, Vermont, where they were married.
Marie held a variety of jobs, including time as an Avon representative and house mother at Proctor Academy in Andover, N.H. She and Ed were the owners of a roller skating rink in Franklin, N.H. for a number of years.
A devout follower of Christ, she was always active in her faith and in her church. She taught Sunday School and organized and participated in many church activities. She was a friend to all she met.
Marie was known for her keen sense of humor, generosity, never-ending spirit, a beautiful smile and an insatiable love for meeting new people.
She is survived by three children, Douglas Smith, and his wife Bess of North Andover; Rebecca Blanton of Berlin and her partner, Michael Hinds of Worcester; and Christopher Smith and his partner Bryn Russell of San Antonio, Texas. She also leaves seven grandchildren, Kristin Ells and her husband Tony, Douglas Smith and his wife Jen, Alex MacLeod and his wife Bethany, Cindy Smith and her partner Ernie Noyes, Jonathan Blanton and his wife Jess, David Blanton, and Beau Russell; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Other cherished and loved “family” included Diane Tilton, Bill Blanton, Jane Sewall and Laura and Dennis Zell. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by her seven siblings; her daughter, Geraldine MacLeod, and her son-in-law, Alexander (Sandy) MacLeod.
Marie's family would like to thank the doctors and staff at University of Massachusetts Medical Center; the staff of Marlborough Hills Health Center; and the members of the Steven's Ministry at Grace Baptist Church in Hudson for their prayers and support over the past two years.
Visiting hours are Monday, Oct. 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. Services will be held from the funeral home Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne immediately following the services. Funeral Arrangements are being handled by Slattery Funeral Home, 40 Pleasant Street, Marlborough.
