Ella Mae Smith Showalter, 83, died Dec. 21, 2006 at Civista Medical Center, LaPlata.

Born June 22, 1923, in Orange, Va., she was the ninth of eleven children of the late Noah Webster Smith and the late Sadie Lohre Smith. She graduated from Orange High School in 1941.

She married Albert E. Showalter, II, on Oct. 13, 1943. They were married for 63 years.

She is preceded in death by her oldest son, Albert E. Showalter, III, her parents, and eight of her siblings.

She is survived by her husband, Albert E. Showalter, II, her son, Gary Showalter, his wife, Coral Showalter, her three grandchildren, Allison Showalter, Stacey Showalter, and Daniel Showalter, and two of her sisters, Hazel Smith Birdsong, and Lynette Smith Preddy.

Mrs. Showalter was a longtime member of Allentown Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and sang in the church choir. She was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking, sewing, crafts, and sharing the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Visitation will be Dec. 27 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Arehart-Echols Funeral Home in LaPlata. The service will be Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in LaPlata. Burial will take place at St. Mary's Newport Catholic Church in Charlotte Hall, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Arrangements are being handled by the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home.