Virginia Smith Lewis
November 4, 1905 ~ May 19, 2012

What a sweet reunion it must have been when Virginia Lewis passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 19, 2012. (Amy) Virginia Smith was born in Draper, Utah, on November 4, 1905, the tenth and youngest child of Heber Absolom Smith and Sarah Jane Fitzgerald Smith. Virginia married Rulon Daniel Lewis in the Salt Lake Temple on September 9, 1929. They had one child, Rulon “Dan” (Becky) Lewis.

Virginia attended Draper Park School, Jordan High School, where her brother, Alma Smith, served as principal, and studied education at “the BYU.”

Although Virginia adored her beloved Utah “Star of the West,” she willingly followed her husband on his assignments as a soil scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, gathering friends like roses along the way. She lived in Oregon, Louisiana, Georgia, Minnesota, Wyoming, Kenya, and Thailand. Highlights include safaris in Africa, serving as the first Relief Society President in Thailand, and “walking where Jesus walked” in Israel. After her husband passed away suddenly in 1967, Virginia settled in Orem, Utah. She served as a Provo Temple worker and tour guide on Temple Square.

Virginia looked to the future with optimism and faith. “The right way is the happy way”. She was happiest working the soil with her hands, reading, or visiting with family. She also felt a deep connection to her pioneer ancestors, which included Perry Fitzgerald, who crossed the plains with Brigham Young and Absolom Wamsley Smith, who was a friend to Joseph Smith and a member of the first bishopric in Draper.

“Grandma Lewis” will be missed by her grandchildren, Ryan (Heidi) Lewis, Cherie (Michale) Smith, Michelle (Doug) Brockbank, and Christy (Jared) Jepson, and twenty-one great-grandchildren. She will be remembered simply as “Aunt Virginia” by countless extended family.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Rulon, and her son “Danny”in 1984. The family offers their gratitude to the staff at Charleston Assisted Living in Cedar Hills, Utah, Merry Lee and Tonia and the dedicated workers at First Choice Hospice, and for selfless service over the years from Orchard Park 1st Ward.

Services will be held Friday, May 25, 2012 at 11:00 am in the Cedar Hills West LDS Stake Center Chapel, 4580 West, Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah. Family & friends may attend a viewing from 9:30–10:30 am prior to services. Interment will follow in Draper City Cemetery at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund. “God be with you ‘til we meet again.”