Sylvia Joyce (Terrell) Smith, 82, of Weston, Ohio passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on June 7, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. She was the daughter of Clarence and Gertrude Terrell of London, Kentucky. Sylvia was residing at her vacation home in Mesa, Arizona at the time of her passing.
Sylvia was born in Kettle Island, Kentucky, a small coal mining community located in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky. She was a coal miner’s daughter, and shared many stories of her childhood that mirror the lyrics of the famous Loretta Lynn song. One of 8 siblings, she moved to Ohio at the age of 14 to help one of her older sisters who had moved to northwest Ohio and was raising three young children including recently born twins. She initially attended Westwood High School in Wood County, where she met her future husband, Dan Smith of Weston, Ohio. Sylvia graduated from Otsego High School in 1961. She and Dan were married for over 60 years until the time of his passing in 2022.
She retired from Bowling Green State University in 2001 after a 20+ year career working in the Dean’s Office of the College of Business. In addition to BGSU, Sylvia was employed at several full-time jobs during her career while also raising two children and assisting Dan with farm work most evenings, nights and weekends in the spring and fall. She worked tirelessly to make a better life for her family.
When not working, she and Dan enjoyed many weekends and vacations at the cabin they owned in the Allegheny Mountains in northwestern Pennsylvania. After her retirement, she and Dan began spending the winter months in Mesa, Arizona where they participated in many activities, most notably competitive shuffleboard, a sport in which Sylvia became very proficient. She won numerous local, regional, national and international events, and was a multi-time Gold Medalist at the United States Senior Olympics. She and Dan represented the United States Shuffleboard Team at international events all over the world including Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, and Norway. Sylvia was active as an officer of several Shuffleboard associations, including being the Western Regional Director of the USA National Shuffleboard Association. She was inducted into the USA National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Arizona Shuffleboard Hall of Fame in 2018. After Dan passed away, she continued to participate in shuffleboard tournaments with her friend and companion, Chuck Crouse, taking home many more trophies and awards, most recently at the Arizona State Doubles Tournament in March of 2025.
Sylvia was a lifelong member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Custar, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Smith of Weston, OH, her siblings Ronnie Terrell, Madge Henderson, Patricia Sharp, Bob Terrell, Linda Smith, Darrell Terrell and John Smith. She is survived by her friend and companion Chuck Crouse, Mesa, AZ, her sister Margie Pauldine of Hamilton, OH, her son, Kyle (Cherie) of Marietta, GA, daughter Kim Griffith, (Jeff) Weston, OH, two granddaughters, Savannah Smith (TJ), Columbus, OH and Sommer Smith, of Carrollton, GA, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Sylvia will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home, 1460 W. Wooster Street, Bowling Green. Her Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 11:00 am at St. Louis Catholic Church, 22792 Defiance Pike, Custar, OH 43511. Interment will immediately follow at St. Louis Cemetery, Custar.
In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations in memory of Sylvia Smith to the Huntsman National Senior Games*
*The Huntsman National Senior Games is a 501c(3) charitable organization that provides seniors a venue of international sports competition and education on active aging, with the mission to foster worldwide peace, health and friendship and lead the world in active aging.
Online condolences may be share with the family by visiting www.hannemanfuneralhomes.com.
