Donna L. Smithhart, 96, of Ottumwa died at 1:55 a.m. May 2, 2026 at Good Samaritan Society-Ottumwa.
She was born August 8, 1929 in Ansley, NE to Harold and Lottie Stockham Helmick. She married Lester Smithhart on September 8, 1951 and he preceded her in death on February 13, 2014.
Donna was a 1946 graduate of Ottumwa High School. She had worked as a telephone operator in the 1950’s, was a public opinion interviewer, provided childcare and worked the Wapello County elections. She was a dedicated volunteer for Zion Community Church of God, Mars Hill Church, American Cancer Society, Ottumwa Schools and for Good Samaritan Society for over 40 years.
She was a member of Zion Community Church of God and was a board member at Mars Hill Church.
Surviving are her children, Scott E. (Sherry) Smithhart of Runnells, Todd L. (Melinda) Smithhart of Ottumwa, Anthony “Tony” J. (Susan) Smithhart of Pleasant Hill, Laura Leigh Larkin of Ankeny, Connie (Kelly) Smithhart of Concrete, WA and Debbie (Mike) Day of Ocala, FL; 10 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; 7 sisters, Jean McAntire of Cedar Falls, Jeanette Griffith of Broken Arrow, OK, Sharon (Delbert) Pattison of Cedar Rapids, Deb Baughman of Pulaski, Sara (Matthew) Cregar of Vallejo, CA, Kate Milligan of West Des Moines and Andrea (Kevan) Bogert of Drakesville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Lottie Helmick and Nancy Wilcox; her stepfather, James Wilcox; a son, Bobby Wynn; 2 sisters, Charlene Clow and Pat Christy; a brother, David Helmick; a daughter-in-law, Jean Wynn; brothers-in-law, Mike Baughman, Leroy Griffith and Mike McAntire.
Visitation will begin at noon on Wednesday, May 6th at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, May 7th at Reece Funeral Home with Pastor Mel Kendall officiating. Burial will be in Sherman Chapel Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Zion Community Church of God, Food Bank of Iowa or Mars Hill Church.
