Tilton---Alice Ruth (Bump) Smith calmly entered the heavenly presence of her Savior, the Lord Jesus, on April 26, 2019 while listening to some of her favorite hymns.
Alice was born on March 17, 1933 in Portland, Maine to John E. & Rhea D. Bump. She was educated in the Portland schools and graduated from Deering High School in 1951.
Following graduation, Alice worked for a time as a file clerk for Union Mutual Insurance Company. During the summer of 1951 she met Albert B Smith at a Bible conference held at the Old Orchard Beach Camp Meeting Ground and they were married on April 18, 1953 in Portland. They then made their first home in Laconia, NH before moving to New Hampton for a few years. Albert and Alice moved their growing family to Tilton in 1959 where she lived until 2009 when her declining health required Alice’s move to Belknap County Nursing Home.
Alice was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. When her five children were all old enough to attend school she began selling Fuller Brush products. She enjoyed doing many tasks around her home including canning and freezing bountiful harvests from the family garden. Alice credited her mother-in-law with helping her learn those skills. She also enjoyed word search puzzles, reading and baking treats for her family and others. During the 1960’s she served as a hostess for a Good News Club in her home and then as a helper when the club met at the Union-Sanborn Elementary school. She delighted in celebrating special family events with her immediate family and with her husband’s large extended family.
Alice was faithful in regular church attendance and regular reading of her Bible throughout her life. She always had a special fondness for music, especially solid Gospel music. Alice attended many special concerts at Rumney Bible Conference and Alton Bay Conference grounds with her family.
Alice delighted to meet and dote on each of her grandchildren when they were born and, more recently, her great grandchildren.
Alice is survived by her husband of sixty-six years, Albert B. Smith III of Tilton, NH; five children and their spouses: James & Susan Smith of New Castle DE, Timothy & Debra Smith of Laconia, NH, Ruth & Jonathan Marshall of Gorham, ME, Michael & Lee Smith of Deerfield Beach, FL and Joel & Jane Smith of Concord, NH; sister-in-law, Cymbeline Tibbetts of Alyett, VA; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Alice was predeceased by her parents and her brother, John E. Bump, Jr.
Alice’s family is very thankful for the compassionate care, especially from the East Wing staff; she received during her time at Belknap County Nursing Home and from the NH VNA Hospice staff during the last year.
A visitation hour in honor of Alice will be held at 10 am on May 6, 2019 followed by a funeral service at 11 am at Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH.
For those who wish memorial contributions may be made in Alice’s name to the Belknap County Nursing Home, Attn: Brenda Twardosky, Recreation Director, 30 County Drive, Laconia, NH 03246 or to Central New Hampshire VNA and Hospice, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.