Elizabeth Louise Smith, 89, died May 29 in Bradenton, Florida. Born November 23, 1936, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Betsy was the daughter of the late Alfred Bauer and Edna (Castor) Bauer and the widow of the late Harry Tolson Smith who passed in December 2025.
Betsy was raised in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia with her six siblings, all who predeceased her: Edna Kucinski, Mary Ann Henry, Virginia Clarke, Ruth Gillespie, Alfred “Bud” Bauer and Harold Bauer. Betsy graduated from Roxborough High School and married the boy next door in 1956.
Together, they set up housekeeping in West Norriton, Pennsylvania. There, they raised three children: Donna Miles of Annapolis, Maryland and Bradenton, Florida; Mark Smith of West Norriton and Reed Smith of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Betsy was an avid cook, baker, seamstress and homemaker while raising her children. Once they entered school, she reentered the workforce and rose to become an executive secretary at Volkswagen America, General Electric, Martin-Marietta and Lockheed-Martin.
She was a woman of deep faith, and she and Harry were founding members of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. She served the church in many capacities and remained an active member until moving to Florida to live closer to their daughter. Harry and Betsy celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary together on June 2, 2025. In addition to her children, Betsy leaves behind a son-in-law, William Miles, and four grandchildren: Melissa, Martin, and Erica of Pennsylvania, and Kelana, of Jakarta, Indonesia.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 10 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 132 E. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. The family will receive visitors beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in Betsy’s name to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209, is in charge of arrangements.
