The daughter of John Perry Ensley and Elizabth Borthwick Ensley, Laura Isabel Smith was born in Ontario, California more than ninety years ago. A sixty-year resident of Riverside, she passed away here in Riverside a few days before Christmas. She was residing in Plymouth Tower at the time.
Her father was a founder of the Sunkist Growers Association, and was very active in the Ontario City government. Isabel attended schools in Ontario, and graduated from Chaffee High School. Isabel went on to college, and graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in home economics. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
She taught school in Los Angeles for four years, until her marriage in 1927 to Fred D. Smith. Mr. Smith served as City Treasurer in Riverside from 1946 to 1957. His business was in stocks and bonds. After her husbands death , Mrs. Smith returned to school work, specializing in audio-visuals in the R.U.S.D.
Mrs Smith was active in the Riverside Garden Club and the Riverside Panhellenic Association. She was a member of the First Congregational Church for many years. She did volunteer work in scouting organizations. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Isabel Smith is survived by her daughter, JoAnn Mailes of Santa Barbara; her son, Richard Smith of Grants Pass, Oregon; two sisters, Gladys Poyet of Garden Grove and Elizabeth Rathbun of Ontario; and by seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Family, sewing, gardening, music, birds, travel: she found all of these to be important. She was a good sport, with a good sense of humor, whose presence blessed those around her. She will be missed!
Laura Isabel Smith – April 2, 1899 – December 16, 1989
This document transcribed from the Research of Elizabeth Ensley Rathbun