Marilyn Beverly (Evans) Smith

Marilyn Beverly (Evans) Smith, of Myerstown PA Marilyn was the wife of George Alden Smith Sr. for over 55 years. He predeceased her in 2009. Born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, May 29, 1931, Marilyn was the daughter of Stanley Woodward Evans Sr. and Sophia Sylvia (Kochins) Evans. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Bloomsburg College where she met her future husband in an Art History class. While at Bloomsburg, she received a Service Key Award and was a member of both of Kappa Delta Pi (Academic Fraternity) and the B Club (Athletic Club). Marilyn also ran the Bloomsburg water ballet program and had her Certification in Life Saving. After graduation, she was hired and worked as a teacher in Baltimore, MD and then moved to Lebanon County after the birth of their first son. While raising seven children, she was a substitute teacher for the Lebanon school district and did homebound teaching. After advancing her education and going for her Masters in Psycho-sociology, she did her internship at Philhaven Hospital. She then changed her career from education in grades 1-8 to mental health and was the executive director of Outreach Inc. and set up group homes in Dauphin, Lancaster, Lehigh, Cumberland Perry, and Lebanon (six counties). Marilyn was a long-term member of Trinity United Methodist Church (previously Centenary) in Lebanon where she was an adult Sunday School Teacher, member of United Methodist Women, Christ Servant Minister, and led the Women’s Bible Study group called the Rachel Circle until her passing. The Rachel Circle was the longest continuously run Bible study group at Trinity. She was a leader in the Annville Arts Council (called May Day celebration), started the Arts Council in Lebanon, and was a committee member on VISTA program, a past president of the Annville Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), National Organization of Women (NOW), and League of Women Voters. She was one of the founders of Women’s Investment Now (WIN) Club. Marilyn and her husband George started and led the Cleona Quittapahilla variety 4-H club, always striving to create an environment for children to learn. She enjoyed classical music and watching her granddaughter sing in Operas. She loved to travel and for one trip she traveled with her family of nine plus her mother across the US in their VW bus. Later she traveled to many destinations including Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Greece, England, Costa Rica, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Alaska, Hawaii, China, and Australia. A constant learner, she loved non-fiction and religious books. She spread the word of God with anyone she met, recalling a trip overseas where she tried to spread God’s word and a man pulled away from her as if the book burned his hand. She loving called all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren by their first and middle names. Surviving are sons George Alden Jr. (wife Vivian), Rev. David Alan (wife Susan) Lancaster, MA, Paul Drew of Kutztown, PA, Daniel Woodward (Wife Yan) of Jacksonville, FL, and daughters Lorri Lynn (Smith) Umberger (Husband Mark) of Myerstown PA, Dr. Tammy Lynn Smith (Husband Dr. William Thompson) of Lake Wales, FL, Beverly Glyde Smith of Myerstown, PA, 18 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She was the last of her immediate family and predeceased by brothers Stanley, Theodore, Thomas, William, Ronald, Joseph, and Robert Evans. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 8:30am from Trinity United Methodist Church, 757 Willow St. Lebanon, PA 17046. Interment will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. An evening viewing will be held Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 6-8pm at the Church and on Thursday morning from 8am until the time of her service at the Church.

Marilyn Beverly (Evans) Smith

May 29, 1931 - May 4, 2025