Beatrice "Billie" L. Dunfee-Smigel

Beatrice L. “Billie” Dunfee-Smigel, 89, of New Philadelphia, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at the Inn at Northwood Village in Dover, following a period of declining health. Born August 19, 1933 in Belle Valley, Ohio, she was the only child of the late Charles C. and Aneda (Morellia) Richard.

After her graduation from Belle Valley High School in 1951, Billie earned her Bachelor’s Degree, and later her Master’s Degree, in Library Science from Kent State University which prepared her for her career as the librarian at Bowerston Public Library and as a teacher at Conotton Valley Schools, as well as Buckeye JVS. She lived in Bowerston for much of her life and had attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Bowerston and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in New Philadelphia.

She will be deeply missed by her daughters, Mary (David) Roe, Clorinda “Rindy” Brace, and Marsha (Greg) Graham; grandchildren, Amanda, Fred, Sarah, Christopher, Marcus, and Maxwell; great-grandchildren, Aiden, Isabelle, and Scotty; stepdaughters, Barbara (Richard) Letvin, Patricia (Joseph) Parisi, and Cathy (Bill) Work; and many step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Harold A. Dunfee; her second husband, Bernard “Ben” Smigel; her aunts who had helped raise her, Christina Spade and Eileen Jensen; and her dear cousin, Arthur “Bud” Larrick who was like a brother to her.

Her memory will be honored at a 1:00 p.m. funeral on Monday, January 9, at the R. K. Lindsey Funeral Home in Dennison where her family will receive callers for two hours prior to the service. A private, family graveside service will be held at Longview Cemetery in New Athens, Ohio on a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bowerston Public Library, P. O. Box 205, Bowerston, OH  44695.