Kathleen “Kay” Smith, 95, of Vero Beach, passed away on Nov. 29, 2014.
Smith was born in Manchester, England to Leslie Smith and Daisy Dullforce. When she was 12, she went to Lowther College; a boarding school for girls in Abergele, North Wales, part of the school being in Bodelwyddan Castle. She was there five years and then gained her Household Management Diploma at the Manchester Domestic Economy College then spent nine months in Alexandria, Egypt, staying with relatives.
Smith enjoyed her secretarial work with an engineering firm. During that time, the war started so she joined the Red Cross, spending every Friday night in a local cave where people sheltered during the raids.
She became Chief animal Guard with lists of all the pets in the area, spent one evening at the YMCA serving food and another typing for the Home Guard. When her age came up, she was conscripted (drafted) and had four choices: Land Army, Munitions, Services, or Nursing. Smith chose the Women’s Auxillary Air Force (WAAF). She passed a Morse test, went on a six month course and became a Wireless Operator.
After the war, Smith worked in Germany with UNNRA and then with the succeeding organization, IRO, as Confidential Secretary to the Zone Eligibility Officer. She returned home in 1949 and worked in Manchester for six years, later immigrating to Toronto, Canada in 1955 and working for the Editor of the Law Society of Upper Canada for eight months.
She later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she worked for two years until moving to San Francisco, Calif., for a year. She returned to England in 1959, after the passing of her father. In 1960, she decided to move to Miami, and sailed over in a cargo ship.
After doing temporary work for a while, she became Executive Secretary to the Vice President of Real estate and Franchising at Howard Johnson’s Executive Offices and worked there for six years. She moved to Vero Beach in 1974 where she did secretarial work until her retirement.
Smith enjoyed keeping busy with various activities including the Red Hat Chapter, Active Singles, AARP, the British Club, and kept up her dancing as if she were still living in England. Smith belonged to Stockport Amateur Operatic Society and was in seven shows.
There are no services scheduled at this time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, Attn: Connie Cotherman, Asst. Development Director, P. O. Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961.
