- Date Of Birth: February 9, 1926
- Date Of Death: November 30, 2020
- State: Michigan
Passed away Monday evening, November 30, 2020, in St. Joseph, MI. Edna was born February 9, 1926, in Climax, MI, the daughter of Herbert and Mary (Wolcott) Smith. On July 16, 1955, Edna was united in marriage to Frank G. Farthing II, who preceded her in death on February 2, 2006. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary prior to Frank’s passing. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Edwin and Raymond Smith, and daughter-in-law, Nancy Farthing.
Edna Loraine (Smith) Farthing lived a full life as a musician, educator, genealogist, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She received a bachelor’s degree from Western State Teachers College and a master’s degree from the same institution after it became Western Michigan University.
Edna loved music from an early age, drawing much joy and confidence from her singing. She sang at weddings professionally while still in high school. In college she participated in several student choirs and was a founding member of the WMU chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. Her last job while in college was as a paid soloist for the morning and evening services of the Second Reformed Church in Kalamazoo. After her marriage she became a member of the Mattawan Congregational Church. She directed the church choir from 1955 to 1968 and led a young girls choir which performed both at the church and for community events. She sang with the Bach Festival Chorus, based at Kalamazoo College, from 1964 until 1987, and was a soprano soloist on more than one occasion.
During her teaching career Edna taught music and elementary grades in Hastings, Springfield, Mattawan and Paw Paw. She was a master teacher who trained several new teachers. She loved seeing children catch fire with learning, particularly reading.
While teaching elementary school in Paw Paw, her principal brought a computer to her classroom and said, “See what you can do with this”. Computers became a passionate hobby as she found educational games for her students, printed T-shirts, and made connections through e-mail.
After retirement, Edna expanded her interest in genealogy. She documented ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, which enabled her to become a member of the Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Chapter of the NSDAR (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution). She contributed to her DAR chapter as regent and with her Genealogy Workshops, helping numerous budding genealogists to trace their own lineage. She also belonged to the Prairie Historical Society, Kalamazoo County Historical Society, Wolcott Society and Cooley Family Association of America (past president). Frank and Edna made several road trips that included a car show or museum for him and research at a genealogy library for her.
Edna is survived by her children, Carla (Robert) Sykora, Frank G. (Karen) Farthing III, Thomas (Christine) Farthing, grandchildren Andrew Sykora, Mary (Rob) Hirasawa, Amy (Andrew) Esper, Judy Sykora and fiance Juan Felipe Campos, Becky (Ben) Knuth, Rachelle (Scott) Schroeder, Kevin Farthing, Scott Farthing and Sara Farthing, great-grandchildren Travis (Dayna) Schuster, Samantha (Tyler) Harrison, Kai and Emiko Hirasawa, Hudson Esper, and Jack Knuth, with three more great-grandchildren expected in 2021.
