- Date Of Birth: August 5, 1945
- Date Of Death: January 9, 2014
- State: West Virginia
Virginia Lou (Merritt) Smith, age 68, of Ashland, KY, formerly of Flemington, WV, was surrounded by her family when she went to join her heavenly father and be reunited with her son, and her sisters, on January 9, 2014, at Kings Daughter Hospital in Ashland, KY, following a sudden illness. She was born August 5, 1945, in Flemington, WV, a daughter of the late Ebert Merritt, and Charlotte (Hatten) Merritt, who survives, of Grafton. Her husband of 34 years, James R. Smith, survives. They were united in marriage May 5, 1984, in Flemington, WV. She dearly loved and cherished him, he was her rock and soul mate. Virginia was a homemaker, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She was cherished and enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a former member of the Flemington Church of God and a protestant by faith. In addition to her mother and husband she is survived by: two loving daughters, Sharon Banks and fiance’ Richard Moore, Minerva, OH, and Elizabeth “Libby” Swick and fiancé Don Keys, of Canton, OH; three step sons, Christopher Smith, of Florida, Homer Banks and wife Cil, of Niles, OH, and Darryl Banks, of Quacker City, OH; several grandchildren, inclulding Eva McAtee, Christopher McAtee, Tammy Jo Moore and husband Jeremy, all of Canton, OH, Tina Ward, of NC, Tara Stout, of Nebraska, Tracey Swick, Canton, OH, and Christopher Smith, Jr., of FL; several great grandchildren; step grandchildren, and step great grandchildren; one sister, Violet Teets, of Simpson, WV; a half-sister, Myrtle Reed, of Moatsville, WV, a brother-in-law, Carl E. Bartlett, of Simpson, WV; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her father she was preceded in death by: one son, Paul James Banks, two grandsons, James “Jimmy” McAtee, and Travis Lee Swick; three sisters, Mary Bartlett, Fanny Drummond, and Catherine McKinney; a half- brother, Olan Merritt; and a half sister, Edna Marie Merritt.
