Dolores Elaine Mottar Smith passed away peacefully on April 4, 2025. She was born on November 9, 1931, in Springfield, Illinois, to Norval and Katheryn Mottar. She was later joined by her brothers, Robert and Richard.
A proud graduate of Lanphier High School, Dolores’ life took a meaningful turn when she attended a Baptist Youth Fellowship event in Jacksonville, IL in March 1950. There, she met Robert Edwin Smith of Stonington, IL, the love of her life. The day her father laid the foundation to add a room for her in their small Watch Avenue house, she came home to tell the family she was engaged. Just eight months after their meeting, on August 27, 1950, she and Bob married, beginning a beautiful journey that lasted nearly 71 years until his passing in July 2021.
Dolores lived a life of service—dedicated to her family, her community, and her faith. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother to Debra, Robert Jr., and Michael, and a pillar of support to the students and staff of Stonington School District, where she worked as the school secretary. She was also an active member of Old Stonington Baptist Church, where her kindness and generosity touched many lives.
She found her greatest joy in her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren:
• Grandchildren: Samuel Smith Penning (Ezara) of Springfield; Emily Smith Penning of Kansas City, MO; Robert Smith III (Bridget) of Bloomfield Hills, MI; Mark Smith (Amber) and Michael Smith (Megan) of La Crosse, WI.
• Great-grandchildren: Declan, Riley, Sullivan, and Finnegan Smith of Bloomfield Hills, MI; Lincoln and Harrison Smith of La Crosse, WI.
In 1979, Dolores began a beloved family tradition—sending each grandchild a holiday card with $2 for candy on occasions like Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving. Though she once joked that $2 went much further in 1979, the true value was in the love behind it—a love that will be deeply missed.
Wednesdays became Dolores’ favorite day of the week, thanks to “coffee and conversation” at the Stonington Library. She treasured the sense of community it provided and loved sharing stories with her close-knit group of friends.
Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, husband Bob, daughter Deb Penning, son-in-law John Penning, daughter-in-law Sue Jane Weil Smith, and grandson Christopher Smith.
She is survived by her sons, Bob of Northville, MI, and Mike of La Crosse, WI; her brother-in-law Richard Smith (Clare) and sister-in-law Polly Bilyeu; and her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the many people who cared for Dolores over the years, especially her kind neighbors, Nevada Devore and John Levault, and her Old Stonington Baptist Church Sunday School classmates, who visited often and ensured Bob and Dolores remained connected to their church family.
Dolores’ kindness, warmth, and unwavering love will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew her.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Old Stonington Baptist Church with Rev. Joel Lohr officiating. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service in the church and inurnment will be in the Old Stonington Cemetery. In accordance with her wishes, Dolores’ ashes will be laid to rest with her husband, Bob, reuniting them in eternal peace. McClure Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Taylorville is assisting the family with arrangements.
