Thelma Eileen (Herrington) Smith Ferrell

Thelma E. Smith Ferrell, of Jackson Twp., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday morning, August 30, 2018.  She passed away at her home at the age of 92.  Born in Alliance, Ohio, March 13, 1926, a daughter to the late Elza J. and Bessie O. (Krumlauf) Herrington, Thelma graduated from Louisville High School with the Class of 1944.  She worked for a short time at the former Spring & Holzworth Store in Alliance. 

A Massillon resident since 1946, Thelma was married to Clifford H. Smith for 41 years before his death in 1985.  During World War II she went with Clifford to all of his military assignments until he went overseas.  She was employed by J.C. Penney in Corpus Christi, TX; by Bon Marche and General Insurance Co. of America both in Seattle, WA and by Sears Roebuck & Co., in Massillon, where she worked as a unit buying clerk, purchasing the merchandise for the store.

Thelma met Walter J. Ferrell in 1997, and they were married on October 10, 1998. She was a member of Calvary Chapel where she served as a Sunday school teacher and assistant Sunday school superintendent.  Later she was a member of Grace Bible Church in Massillon.  She was also a member of First Families of Ohio, Daughters of the American Revolution and Fun Shop Square Dance Club. 

Preceded in death by her parents and first husband, Clifford H. Smith; her sister, Belva Herrington Leguillon, in 2003; second husband, Walter J. Ferrell, in 2008; and her daughter, Susan Smith Eales, in 2015.  Thelma is survived by her son, Ronald J. (Jeannie) Smith, of Massillon and son-in-law, Dana Eales, of Uniontown, Ohio; her grandchildren, Ned A. and Ben E. Eales, Timothy J. (Dawn) Smith and Kerissa (Ronald) Bills; great-grandchildren, Kayla (Jonas) Smith, Ashley Rowles, Austin T. Smith, Autumn, Aveah and Ayanna Bills; Abram and Jace Eales; a great-great-grandson, Bowen Rowles and a special friend, Amy Johnson.  Additional survivors include a step-son, Dennis (Tara) Ferrell, of North Royalton, Ohio; step-grandchildren, Kelli (Michael) Hornsby, of Akron, Renee (Robert) Lamer, of Cuyahoga Falls and Amanda Ferrell, also of North Royalton; step-great-grandchildren, Byron and Alysa Hornsby; Bailey, Riley, Hayden, Austin and Mason, Parker and Calie Lamer; and a former step-daughter-in-law, Joyce Rowe.

Thelma dearly loved her family.  She enjoyed cooking and canning, gardening, flowers and vegetables and shared them all with family, friends and neighbors.  She will be dearly missed by all.

A celebration of Thelma’s life will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at Atkinson Feucht Hare Funeral Home in Massillon.  The family will receive condolences from 10:30-12:30 Tuesday morning in the funeral home.  Pastor Michael Robinson will officiate and interment will follow at Sunset Hills Burial Park.  The family has also suggested memorial contributions made in care of Summit Ministries, PO Box 207, Manitou Springs, CO  80829; Things To Come Mission, PO Box 127, Beach Grove, IN  46107-0127 or Grace Bible Church, 1700 Hankins Rd. NE, Massillon, OH  44646.          

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thelma Eileen (Herrington) Smith Ferrell, please visit our floral store.