Lydia Lunell Melton Smith, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, graduated to heaven exactly 30 years to the day that her husband of 49 years passed. Lunell died from natural causes surrounded by loved ones Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Hermitage, TN.
Lunell was born August 2, 1925, in Jack’s Creek, TN, and grew up in Waynesboro. In 1944, she married her beloved Navy man, Casper L. “Smitty” Smith. Together they traveled the world. The Navy provided an adventurous life stationing them in locations from HI, FL, CA, TN, VA, to retirement in Miami, FL in 1961.
The home of Casper and Lunell was always open to visitors and strays. It was not unusual to find an extra daughter sardined into their little house. Wherever they lived, they were active in their church community, hosting Bible studies, serving ministries, and caring for the widows.
In Hermitage, they were members of Donelson Presbyterian Church. Lunell made her home at McKendree Village Towers from 2010 until 2022.
Lunell was a stay-at-home mother when the girls were young. In 1989, she retired as an internal auditor of Dade County Federal Teachers Credit Union in Miami, FL. Casper and Lunell were avid campers and enjoyed many adventurous trips in North and Central America.
Her love of history, art, and cultures led her on many trips around the world. When Smitty passed, her first trip was to visit grandchildren in Saudi Arabia. Lunell was an amazing seamstress, quilter, and an avid reader.
Lunell was the youngest daughter of a large, loving family. Born the seventh of eight children to William Harvey Melton and Velma Cool Melton. Her siblings Georgia Gobbell, Clara Morrow, James Buford Melton, Dora Jane Carr, William H. Melton, Jr., Austin P. Melton, and Graford Melton, preceded her in death. Lunell and Smitty’s daughters, Linda Loveless (Steven), Kay (Casey) Long (David), and Carolyn Turner (Daryll) gifted the couple with 10 grandchildren, 29 ½ great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Lunell’s faith and love for Jesus Christ served to guide her through life. The testimony of His love was apparent to all who knew her and was an immense blessing to those privileged to be her family and friends. She prayed that each member of her family would be born again in Christ.
Lunell will be interned with Casper at the Middle TN Veterans Cemetery (7931 McCrory Lane, Nashville, TN 37221).
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to her church families at Donelson Presbyterian Church (2305 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37214, https://onrealm.org/donelsonpres/-/form/give/now) and Grace Community Church (4878 Lickton Pike, Whites Creek, TN 37189, https://thenestnashville.org/donate) or Alive Hospice 1710 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203, https://www.alivehospice.org/get-involved/give/).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.EastlandFuneralHome.com for the Smith family.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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