Virginia Whanger Smith, 89, of 4600 Cartwright Lane died Monday, December 27, 2010, at her home.

Mrs. Smith was born March 22, 1921, in Alleghany County, Virginia, a daughter of the late Leighton Emit Whanger and Lavlett Sively Whanger Morris.

She was a 1937 graduate of the former Dunlap High School and later graduated from the West Virginia Business College in Bluefield, WV. She was the first secretary of the AFL-CIO union when it was organized in the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company mills in Covington, VA, Luke, MD and Williamsport, PA.

She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, where she had taught Sunday School. For many years she was active in the Girl Scout organization and local PTA groups. After her children were grown, she enjoyed years of dealing in antiques and collectibles and traveling with her husband to Florida, Texas and Mexico and celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a Carribean cruise.

She was a fifty year member of the Women of the Moose Chapter 911 with Academy of Friendship and College of Regents degrees. She was a member and former Vice-President of the Virginia State Bowling Association, where she enjoyed the bowling as well as the business of the association.

She was preceded in death by her Elbert Otis Smith in 1995; a son, L.C.Smith in 2001; step-father, Jim Morris; sister, Reva Rider; daughter-in-law, Nancy Smith; and a brother, Wesley Whanger.

Surviving are three sons; Leighton E. Smith, Sr. and his wife, Reginia of Iron Gate, Larry R. Smith and his wife, Karen of Summerfield, NC, and Doug Smith of Covington; three sisters, Violet Hall, June M. Martin, and Jean M. Ross, all of Covington; six grandchildren, Lee Smith and Lynne Smith of New Castle, Del. Leighton E. Smith Jr. and his wife, Karen of Lexington, Hunter Ray Smith Sr., James R. Smith, and Jessica Smith of Summerfield, NC; and 12 great grandchildren.

The funeral service was held Thursday, December 30, 2010 in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home with the Rev. Dean Bowser officiating. Interment followed at Alleghany Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers were C.W. Markham, Jimmy Smith, Cleve Meadows, Pete Leitch, Richard Sively, Ralph Kelley, Wayne Whanger, Dave Ferris. Alternate pallbearers will be Jack Sively, Ronnie Helmintoller, Winston Posey, Calvin Booth. Honorary pallbearers will be the Calvary Baptist wednesday night prayer group.

The Arritt Funeral Home, Covington, Virginia, handled the arrangements.