Joan S. Smith, 86, of Columbus, formerly of North Vernon, passed away on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility.

A funeral service will be conducted on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Sawyer – Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service. Rev. Sarah Campbell will officiate. Interment will be in Vernon Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday and from 10:00 AM until the time of the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Born January 1, 1937, in Bloomington, Joan was the daughter of Ellsworth and Elsie Short Johnson. She married John "Ron" Smith on June 8, 2002.

She grew up in the Zion neighborhood in Jennings County. She went to grade school at Vernon and graduated from North Vernon High School. Joan attended Ivy Tech and IUPUC in Columbus. She earned her General Banking Diploma from the American Institute of Banking in 1996.

Joan had worked at Matthews Drug Store and Stoner's Department Store during her high school years. After high school she was employed at Irwin Union Bank, Fidelity Federal Savings and Loan Association where she was promoted to Branch Manager. She was the first female to be named to a manager's position of a financial institution in Jennings County. She worked for Fidelity Federal for twenty-two years and then went to work at Union Bank & Trust Company as branch manager. Later she was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources and Marketing.

Joan is a member of Scipio Methodist Church, Eastern Star, Muscatatuck Modern Homemaker's Club, a former member of the Business & Professional Women's Club, former member the United Way Financial Committee, served on the board of the Jennings County Chamber of Commerce, was Vice Chairman of the Jennings County Republican Party in the early 1980's, and was presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash Certificate by Governor Otis R. Bowen. She enjoyed gardening, especially flowers, reading and her monthly get-togethers with the Vernon and bank girls.

Joan is survived by her husband John "Ron" Smith of Columbus; son, Jeff Belding of North Vernon; daughter, Paula (Ed) Pratt of Auburndale, FL; stepchildren, Jay R. (Dodie) Smith of Columbus, Robin (Sametola) Thomas of Newnan, GA, Susan (Philip) Peters of Clarksville, TN; brother, Jerry Johnson of West Lafayette,; sister, Mary Jo Craigmyle of TX; grandchildren, Susan, Paul, and Haley Belding, Craig and Erin Banks, Austin Smith, Cassidy (Adam) Duell, Christopher, Matthew, and Jonathan (Kayla) Peters; several great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Wayne, Earl and Robert Johnson; sister, Wanda Claire Johnson; step-grandson, Dennis Smith.

Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.

Friends and family are invited to light a candle or leave a message of condolence in Joan's memory at www.sawyerfuneralservice.com.