Elva Hills Smith

Elva Hills Smith, 90

TROY - Elva Hills Smith, 90, died on Friday, June 13, 2003 at the Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center in Troy, following a relatively brief illness. Although a longtime resident of this city, she was born in Newtonville (Town of Colonie), NY on July 23, 1912, the daughter of James Goldsmith Hills and Eliza May Buell. Mrs. Smith was predeceased by her husband William Ewing
Smith, for many years an attorney in Troy, and also by her older son James William Smith of Towson, MD. A graduate of Milne High School and Russell Sage College (1934), before her marriage in 1940 she worked in banking in Albany. During the period of her husband's service in World War II, she assumed responsibility for the administration of his law office and
insurance agency in Troy.

Mrs. Smith's many contributions to her community have reflected a long-standing commitment to family and church, as well as strong personal interests in music, gardening and local history. She was an avid collector and traveler. She was a past President of the Rensselaer County Historical Society, the Russell Sage College Albany Alumnae Chapter, the Van Rensselaer Garden Club, and the Women's Auxiliary of the Troy Boys Club. She also held executive positions in the PTA's of Troy High School and School 16, and in various Methodist church organizations. Always a great lover of music, prior to 1940 she was a choir member and occasional soloist in various local churches and other organizations. She was an active member of Christ Church United Methodist and earlier of Trinity Methodist Church, a devoted supporter of Troy Chromatic Concerts for more than sixty years and a member of the Ilium Literary Club.

Mrs. Smith is survived by a son David Hills Smith of New Rochelle, NY and a daughter Elizabeth Smith-Eisenhauer of Deerfield, IL, their spouses Linden Victoria Tompkins Smith and Donald Alan Eisenhauer, and her grandchildren Juliet Tompkins Smith and James Edwin Eisenhauer. In addition she leaves a cousin Vernice Orlop Hopkins of Schenectady, NY and the beloved children of her sister: Roger Carlson of Washington, DC, Jeffrey Carlson of Edgartown, MA, Susan Carlson of Belchertown, MA and Donald Carlson of Doylestown, PA. Predeceasing her were a sister Caroline Hills Carlson and brothers Edwin Goldsmith Hills, Donald Ellsworth Hills and James Goldsmith Hills, Jr.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, June 21st at Christ Church United Methodist , State and Fifth in Troy. Interment following at Oakwood Cemetery, Troy.

Relatives and friends may call on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00pm at the Bryce Funeral Home Inc., corner of Pawling at Maple Avenues in Troy.

Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Church United Methodist (35 State Street, Troy, NY 12180) in support of its piano restoration fund, or to the Rensselaer County Historical Society (57 Second Street, Troy, NY 12180).

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