Virginia "Ginny" Dodd Smith

Virginia "Ginny" Dodd Smith, 93, of Buchanan, departed from this life on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. She was predeceased by her parents, Calahill Shelor Dodd and Rosalia Robinson Dodd; her husband of 38 years, J. Russell Smith, her husband of 9 years, Daniel W. Smith, and sister, Geneva Dodd Mateer. Survivors are a sister, Ellalee Dodd "Noonie" Vaughn of Delmar, NY; nieces, Terry Vaughn of Green Island, NY; Claire S. Melroy of Forest; Judy B. McNabb of Salem; nephews, Dale Vaughn (Gerri) of Delmar, NY; Carl Ballard (Bernice) of Fincastle; Clyde Hipes of Fincastle; Alan Hipes (Michelle) of Roanoke; great-nieces, Tasha Lacks (Jessie) of Bonsack; Marianne D. Rapp (Roland) of Centreville, OH; great-nephews, Alex Vaughn of Turners Falls, MA; Derek Ballard (Tonya) of Roanoke; great-great-nieces, Tiffany Bennett of Bonsack; Emily and Elana Ballard of Roanoke; great-great-nephews, Ethan Ballard of Roanoke; Xander Lacks of Bonsack; also many members of Daniel Smith's family; some very special "Guardian Angels", a loving church family, and many good friends. After completing high school in Fincastle in 1941, and a secretarial course in Roanoke; she was employed by the War Price and Rationing Board in Buchanan for two and a half years. She taught shorthand and typing at Buchanan High School for two years, then worked as a secretary for Liberty Limestone Corporation for fifteen years. Mrs. Smith retired after twenty-five years of work in the office of James River Limestone Company. She loved gardening, arranging flowers, feeding the birds, and was an excellent seamstress. She was President of the Buchanan Garden Club, a member of the Town Improvement Society, Standing Room Only, The Red Hat Society, Historic Fincastle, Botetourt County Historical Society, and enjoyed volunteering at the Buchanan Fireman's Carnival and the Salem United Methodist Home for many years. She was a charter member of the Botetourt County Chorus and performed with them for twenty-five years and served as their historian for many years. Mrs. Smith was devoted to Trinity United Methodist Church in Buchanan where she sang in the choir for over fifty years, served as Secretary of the Board, was their Hermitage Guild Representative, was treasurer of the UMW, and served in many other capacities. Until her health failed, she was a familiar figure around town almost always wearing a jaunty little cap or hat and was often referred to as the "hat lady". At age 92, she was a published author of the book entitled "Fincastle is Being Run Over by the Dodd Boys and English Sparrows". Visitation will be held from 4-7pm Friday, Friday December 29, 2017 at Botetourt Funeral Home, 14920 Lee Hwy, Buchanan VA 24066. Burial will be at Godwin Cemetery in Fincastle at 10am on Saturday, December 30, 2017 with a Memorial Service to follow at 11am at Trinity United Methodist Church, 19637 Main St., PO Box 206, Buchanan, VA 24066. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Trinity United Methodist Church's Building Fund.