Donna L. (Smith) Rhoades

Donna L. Rhoades, age 91, passed away Tuesday morning, May 26, 2026, at her home in Martinsville.

Donna was born January 21, 1935, in Morgan County to the late Clarence and Marie (Ellerman) Smith. She graduated from Greenwood High School in 1953 and later married A. Keith Rhoades on October 4, 1957, in Bloomington. Together they were blessed with two children and shared 63 devoted years of marriage before Keith’s passing on July 16, 2021.

She was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Martinsville and an associate member of Marco Lutheran Church in Florida, where she and Keith wintered beginning in 1988 and formed many beautiful and lasting friendships.

Donna loved being a homemaker and enjoyed tending to her flower gardens. She worked as an administrative assistant with Eli Lilly during the 1950s and later held the same position with Perry Township Schools from 1968 to 1988. Following their retirements, she and Keith moved to the Rhoades Family Farm in Morgan County in 1996. In 2020, they moved to Grand Valley View Villas in Martinsville, where they were surrounded by many caring and kind new friends.

Donna found great joy in life. She cherished worshipping with her church family and felt blessed to be surrounded by dear friends who treated her with love and kindness. She delighted in being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Donna especially loved spending time in the kitchen, where she was known for sharing wonderful meals and sweet treats with those she loved. She made the best of each day and, when asked how she was doing, was always quick to offer a warm smile and kind words.

Donna is survived by her children, Gregory (Dilek) Rhoades of Ashburn, Virginia, and Rhonda (Jeff) Townsend of Indianapolis; grandchildren, Andrea, Bryan (Brittany), Caroline, and Samuel Townsend, and Ayshe and Daniel Rhoades; great-grandchildren, Emery and August Townsend; along with several loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Beulah Ackerman, Arthur Smith, Clarence “Skelly” Smith Jr., Mary Sluss, D’Lema Baughman, Luther “Bud” Smith, and Lueallin Pate.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, June 6, at 2:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3496 E. Morgan Street in Martinsville. In keeping with Donna’s love of sweets, a light reception featuring desserts and refreshments will follow in Luther Hall at the Church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Meredith Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center in Morgantown.

Memorial contributions may be made in Donna’s memory to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3496 E. Morgan St., Martinsville, IN 46151.

Online condolences may be shared with the Rhoades family at meredithfuneral.com.

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