Jane B Smith of Waterville, passed away on May 2, 2025 at Waterford at Levis Commons, Perrysburg, OH. Born June 23, 1930 in the family home on Bond St, Toledo, Jane Ann Bucher was the youngest child of Floyd P Bucher and Millie (Boose) Bucher.
After leaving their home on Bond St., the Bucher family moved to Dorr St., where Jane’s father set up his contracting business on the property behind their home. Floyd P Bucher & Son General Contracting was a well-known, well-respected Toledo area business for many decades building schools, restaurants, banks etc.
Jane grew up in Reynolds Corners area where she was a student at Glann Elementary School and attended Epiphany Lutheran Church where she was confirmed in 1944. She was employed at the local drug store behind the soda counter and rode the Adams Township bus to Calvin M. Woodward High School where she graduated in 1948.
On January 20, 1951, Jane Ann Bucher became the bride of Martin James Smith in the chapel of Epiphany Lutheran Church where her family regularly worshipped.
As a young Army wife, the new bride moved with her husband to several posts such as Ft. Sill, OK and Camp Polk, LA while her husband trained and served in the US Army. Upon his deployment, Mrs. Smith and her daughter returned to Toledo to await his return from Korea.
Tasked by her husband to find a lot on which to build their house, Mrs. Smith selected what would become their Michigan Ave home in Waterville. Her father built the one-story brick home for his daughter’s family where she lived from 1955-2021. As well as being an Army wife, Jane was a homemaker and mother in a lovely small town where she found not just neighbors but lifelong friends. A seamstress, Jane also sang in the church choir, taught Bible School, was a member of “Club” meeting once a month with her friends.
She and her family worshipped for many years at Zion Lutheran Church, Waterville and in later years, she and Martin were members of Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Monclova.
Mrs. Smith was also active in the Waterville Playshop, Choral Society, was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion, Waterville Post and worked the concession stand at the Waterville Festival. Later in Life Jane found more friends within the rehabilitation group at St. Luke’s Hospital where she organized their monthly luncheons.
Jane and Martin were well traveled with annual trips to Toronto, Canada in the Autumn, while in Spring they drove south to Gatlinburg, TN and their favorite, St. Augustine, FL. The trips often included taking their grandchildren along, so each one had a holiday with Grandma and Grandpa.
Jane B Smith is survived by her four children: Victoria (Stephen) Norwood, Andrew (Kathleen) Smith, Eric (Diane) Smith, Janet (Mark) Smith. Nine grandchildren also survive her: Rebecca (Joshua) Burdette, Luke (Ann) Smith, Tyler (William) Nunemaker, Alexander Norwood, Nathaniel Smith, Allison (Jason) Burdorff, Kelsey (Janelle) Smith, Kevin Smith, Kate (Collin) Mescher. Jane was a great-grandmother of ten.
Jane was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Martin James Mitchell Smith; her parents, Floyd and Millie Bucher; and her older siblings Elaine (Jerry) Myers and Marvin F. Bucher.
Services will be held at Thomas I. Wisnewski Funeral Home, 2426 North Reynolds Rd, Toledo, OH 43615 at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025 where visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. that morning.
We would like to say a special thank you to the staff of Magnolia Trails at Waterford Levis Commons and Hospice of NWO for the special care they gave to Jane.
Donations can be made to Bittersweet Farms, 12660 Archbold-Whitehouse Rd., Whitehouse, OH 43571.