Marjorie Arvilla Allen Smith June 18, 1920 -November 6, 2006 Marjorie Arvilla Allen Smith, 86, of Foxdale Village, State College, passed away on Nov. 6, 2006, at the Mount Nittany Medical Center. Born June 18, 1920, in Dallas, Texas, to Sterling Byron Allen and Mattie Chiles Jacoby Allen, Marjorie is a descendant of Nancy Jane Cochran, a founding settler of Dallas County. She was a 1941 graduate of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, with a masters degree from the University of Texas at Austin in English Literature. Marjorie's lifelong commitment to social justice and peace began to take shape with her work for the University Christian Association (YMCA/YWCA) in Austin. As a young woman, Marjorie came North to Boston to serve the AFSC in their college recruitment program in New England. In the summer of 1947, she participated in post WWII relief and reconstruction projects in Belgium and Germany, with the Service Civile Internationale. From 1948-1951, Marjorie served as Associate Director of the Christian Association at Penn State University. In the fall of 1950, Marjorie met her husband, Reed Meredith Smith, who was a graduate assistant in Political Science. They were married at Perkin's Memorial Chapel at SMU on Aug. 30, 1951, and had four children. Marjorie and Reed helped establish Friends Meetings in Berea, Ohio; Peoria, Illinois; and Dayton, Ohio. Marjorie helped to create the Peoria Committee Against the War in Vietnam. Among her many leadership roles, Marjorie was chosen as clerk of Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting, served on the national committee of Friends General Conference and was active in the American Friends Service Committee. She organized a conference on race relations in Dayton, Ohio. In addition to her organizational work throughout her life, Marjorie had a career as a social worker in the welfare departments in Peoria and Dayton, where she also worked for the Senior Citizens Center. During this time, Marjorie completed a second masters degree in Applied Behavioral Science at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Marjorie was a devoted and loving mother and grandmother. She loved to read literature, poetry and religious texts, and enjoyed theater, handiwork and travel. In 1995, Marjorie and Reed returned to State College for their retirement at Foxdale Village. She served on several committees of State College Friends Meeting. Marjorie helped to organize a conference which shed light on the human suffering caused by the sanctions against Iraq. Less than a week before her death, Marjorie continued to serve as a volunteer at the State College Food Bank. She and Reed served in the Centre County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Prison Society. As members of the Peace and Social Action Committee of the State College Friends Meeting, Marjorie and Reed helped to create a four year vigil against the death penalty and a weekly peace vigil which continues today. She was preceded in death by her only sister, "Lollie," Laura Helen Allen Moser, who died at the age of 87 in 2004; by Marjorie's beloved namesake, Margie Moser Bleil; her dear cousin, Kay Awtry Gilchrist; and her son-in-law, Thomas E. Barker. Marjorie is survived by her husband, Dr. Reed M. Smith; two sons, Allen and Gregory Smith; and two daughters, Diana Smith-Barker, and Laura Nell Henderson and her husband, Peter. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She is survived by a wide circle of friends and family, including her earliest childhood friend, Sister Mary Paula (Lorraine Bush). A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006, at 3 p.m., at the Foxdale Village Auditorium, 500 E. Marylyn Ave., State College, PA 16801. Memorial contributions may be made to the State College Friends Meeting, Prospect Avenue, State College, PA 16801, or the State College Peace Centre, in care of Reed Smith, 500 E. Marylyn Ave., State College, PA 16801. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc. in Bellefonte.

Published by Centre Daily Times on Nov. 9, 2006.