Emma Jeane Painter

OBITUARY

Emma Jeane Painter, 98, formerly of Dunnellon, died peacefully in the early morning hours at the Atria Assisted Living Facility in Lady Lake under the care of Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care on the nineteenth day of November of 2016. She was born into this life on May 3, 1918 in Tucker County, West Virginia to the late Forrest Greely Thorpe and Florence Hauser Thorpe. Emma is the mother to David J. Smith of Keller, TX.

Emma Jeane was one of the first women who soloed and the first to be a licensed pilot in the state of West Virginia. She was a graduate of Steno Type Institute in Washington, DC in 1953. Emma was personal secretary to senator Matthew Neely, chairman of senate armed service committee and worked in war crimes section of Judge Advocate General and counter espionage of US Army Intelligence Division in Europe. Emma retired to Dunnellon with her husband in 1977 and has been active in church and social clubs. She was past president of Dunnellon’s Women’s Club, president of Friends of Dunnellon Library, district 5 director for Garden Club of the State of Florida and was presented with the community service award by the Dunnellon Chamber of Commerce in January of 1987 in recognition of her accomplishments in making Dunnellon a better place to work and live.

She is survived by her son from her former marriage David J. Smith and his wife Joanne Smith of keller, TX; her granddaughter, Lori E. Bollinger; her grandsons, Kelly Kepler Smith and David W. Smith along with several great grandchildren

There will be a Memorial Service in remembrance of Emma Jeane Painter on Monday, November 28, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the Atria of lady Lake,930 County Road 466, Lady Lake, FL 32159 in the Dining Room. Inurnment will take place at a later date where she will be interred next to her husband Harry Painter.