Dolores Vallee Smith

Dolores Gorrell Smith, 90, of Parkersburg, WV went to be with her Heavenly Father on March 23, 2025 at Camden Clark Medical Center. Throughout her entire life, Dolores had an unwavering faith in the Lord and complete trust in Him. She displayed this beautifully during her last days on this Earth.

She was a “Valentine Baby”, born on February 14, 1935 in Sherman, WV, the daughter of the late Harry D. Gorrell and Georgia Kelbaugh Gorrell.
Dolores was a member of Fairlawn Baptist Church where she served in many different capacities. She was instrumental in helping to create the Senior Adult Ministry, was the church librarian, a Sunday school teacher, and taught vacation bible school during the summer. She delivered cookies to nursing homes, served on the bereavement committee, and visited shut-ins with her good friend, Delores Wilson. She dearly loved the Lord and her church family, so much so that she kept a prayer journal with many entries with the names of those she was praying for. When going through things at her home, a small index card was found in her Bible with the verse 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. In Dolores’ handwriting it read, “Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances”. How fitting, as she so mindfully prayed for others and took time each day to be thankful for her many blessings.

Dolores was a retired teacher that started her career at the age of 19 in a one-room school in Washington, WV. It was there, in that one-room school, that she fell in love with teaching and children. After graduating from Marshall College, she taught 27 years in Wood County. The majority of those years were at Roosevelt Elementary School. She loved teaching and took great pride in her students and their accomplishments. She cared deeply for her students and their families, making the time to do home visits before each school year to get to know them better. Dolores made a lasting impact on the lives of her students who still often reached out to her and told her what she meant to them.

In addition to her parents, Dolores was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years, Donzel C. Smith Sr, granddaughter Megan Lynn Smith, stepmother, Pam Gorrell, two brothers, Ronald and Dayton Gorrell, and three sisters-in-law, Linda Ankrum, Ruby, and Brigitte Gorrell.

If you spent any length of time with Dolores Smith, she spoke of how much she loved and cherished her family and friends. Donzel and Dolores had a wonderful group of friends throughout their lives. This group was inseparable and loved to camp and play cards together. In recent years, Dolores would spend her Fridays playing cards with her “girls” and looked forward to that time with her friends. Her favorite thing in this world was to simply be with her family. Sitting around the table playing “Sunday Cards”, laughing, sharing stories, and just being together.

Dolores is survived by three sons; Don (Dee) Smith, Darren (Carrie) Smith, and Duane (Lisa) Smith all of Washington, WV. One daughter; Denise (Mark) Lindamood of Parkersburg, WV. Ten grandchildren William Root, D.C. Smith, Charley (Josh) Jacobsen, Maddy (Kyle) Devine, Lexie and Josh Smith, Joey, Matt, and Adam (Katie) Lindamood, and Kristen (Loren) Cullum. Six great grandchildren; Fallon, Taylor, Aubree, Abram, Emry, and Erin. Brother-in-law Wayne Ankrum, step-sister Sharon Flanagan, step-brother Bob (Gloria) Evans, and many special nieces and nephews.

To think of a life well-lived is to think of the life of Dolores Smith. Her servant heart, love for and faith in the Lord was a beautiful example to all who knew her. Matthew 25:21, “His Lord said unto him, well done thou good and faithful servant…”

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Fairlawn Baptist Church with Pastor Kyle Neal officiating.
Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, March 26 at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, Pike Street, south Parkersburg and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Senior Adult Ministry at Fairlawn Baptist Church.
Lambert Tatman Funeral Home is honored to serve the Smith family.