Piny Cochran Smith

Piny Cochran Smith passed away peacefully on July 25, 2017. She was born February 1, 1917, a daughter of Rufus and Arizona Byrd Cochran. Piny grew up on a farm just outside of Richton, Mississippi with her nine siblings, two of whom were gold medalists in the 1924 and 1948 Olympic Games. She shared many happy family memories, including playing forward with her sister Arluin on the Richton High School basketball team and playing in the creek of the family farm.

In 1936 Piny Cochran married her first love Wyndall Smith, who grew up on the adjoining farm from her familiy's. In 1938 they moved to Owensboro, where Wyndall became the well-respected owner of the Foodland Stores and Wyndall Smith Enterprises. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wyndall Smith, a grandson Brad Smith, seven brothers and a sister.

She led an active life in service to her community. She was a member of Settle Memorial United Methodist Church and for many years served on the board of directors of The Salvation Army. She was the first woman to be a member of the board of directors for the Kentucky State Fair, which she served for eight years. She served on the boards of the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art and Kentucky Wesleyan College, where she was designated trustee emeritus. She also served on the Owensboro Health Foundation board and was for many years a member of the Owensboro Women's Club and the Women's Guild. She was dedicated to and loved craft making, including custom Christmas ABC block trees, quilts, and picture frames. Annually there is a quilt award given in her honor at the Kentucky State Fair.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her children David Smith and his wife Brenda, Joy Belcher and her husband Homer, Stanton Smith, and T.A. Smith and his wife Cathy; her sister Arluin Kyzar; 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren, and her special niece Nancy Fitts.

She loved her family, her friends, and her community and appreciated the role each played in her life.

The funeral service for Mrs. Smith will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friday and after 9:00 a.m. Saturday. Entombment will be in Owensboro Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Expressions of sympathy may take form of contributions to The Salvation Army, The Carmel Home, or the charity of one's choice. Memories may be shared with the family of Piny Smith at www.glennfuneralhome.com