Anita (Rosch) Smith

Anita Louise Smith (nee Rosch) passed peacefully from this life, age 101, at the Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans Home, Knoxville, on February 18, 2024. Anita was born on May 27, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York, the eldest child of Louise and Arthur Rosch. She met her future husband, Herbert Lester Smith, in Sunday School, when he flashed a mirror in her eyes to get her attention. She was 14. They were married for 70 years. Anita and Herb raised five children and retired to Knoxville in 1995. 

Anita was predeceased by her husband, and by their son Robert Smith, and is survived by their children Carol Ziegler (Carl), Stephen Smith (Pat), Evelyn Sausser (Ken, predeceased), and Kenneth Smith (Heather); two grandchildren, Jim Ziegler (Cheryl) and Catherine Jung (David); and five great-grandchildren (Kimberly, Robert, Brian, Casey, and Andrea).

Academics would call Anita a "homemaker," but she was more than that. Loving, intelligent, fiercely independent, Anita was a joy to her family and to all who knew her. She had a lifelong mistrust of eggs and milk, but she loved bacon, coffee, reading, walking, crossword puzzles, and cats. Especially cats. Anita was front-and-center a mom: nurturing, encouraging, teaching, comforting, scolding when (often) necessary, and always forgiving. Anita could stop bad behavior with a hard stare, or bring delight with her sly smile and laughter, which were such a part of her that they almost went unnoticed. Those who knew Anita loved to make her laugh and will miss her smile and laughter most of all. Always with Anita there was love. The Smith family wishes to express its gratitude to the generous and compassionate care Anita received from Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice, Morning Pointe of Powell Assisted Living, and especially from the caregivers at the Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans' Home. 

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 1, 2024 at Mynatt Funeral Home Fountain City Chapel followed by a Celebration of Life service, Dr. Pat Polis officiating.  In lieu of flowers, those wishing to cherish Anita's memory are asked to please make a donation to the Activities Department of the Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans' Home, or to the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley, Knoxville, from whom Anita adopted Coco, her loving cat-companion for over 17 years.  Condolences may be left at www.mynattfh.com.