Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 11/14/2004

Florence E. Smith

April 28, 1914 -- Nov. 11, 2004

Florence E. Smith, 90, of Marine Street, South Bend, Ind., died at 11:22 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend.

She was born on April 28, 1914, in Des Moines, Iowa, to DeLonia and Sarah (Slack) Comegys. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Elaine Von Baden on Aug, 18, 1998; and by her brother, Jack Comegys, who died on June 1, 2002.

On June 1, 1957, in South Bend, she married Harold C. Smith, who preceded her in death on Nov. 17, 1975.

Florence was the "Coty Girl" at the Wyman's Department Store in downtown South Bend before its closing. She then retired from Whitely's Bridal Shop in South Bend.

Surviving are two daughters, Marilyn (Joseph) Behner of Mishawaka, Ind., and Glenice Patterson of South Bend; nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister, Betty Jo Zwickl of South Bend; three brothers, Edward (Marjorie) Comegys of South Bend, Lonnie "Bud" (Jean) Comegys of Bradenton, Fla., and Robert Comegys of Tampa, Fla.

Funeral services will be Monday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m. in the Palmer Funeral Home, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, IN, with Rev. Ed Erskin officiating.

Interment will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.