Waltraud “Trudy” Smith, 85, of LaPorte, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017.
She was born Oct. 8, 1931, in Muehldorf Am Inn, Germany, to Ferdinand and Emma (Kroner) Bathen and came to this area in 1955.
Trudy worked at American Rubber, LaPorte, for 15 years as a secretary and accounting clerk. She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church in LaPorte.
On Oct. 9, 1954, in Muehldorf Am Inn, Germany, she married Robert D. Smith, who preceded her in death on Jan. 27, 2016.
Trudy was also preceded in death by her parents and brother, Ferdinand Bathen.
She leaves behind several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at St. Peter Catholic Church, LaPorte, with Rev. Ian Williams officiating. Visitation will be at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, LaPorte, on Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Burial will take place in Westlawn Cemetery, North Liberty, IN.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter Catholic Church, 1104 Monroe St., LaPorte, IN 46350; or Independent Cat Society, PO Box 241, Michigan City, IN 46360.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.