Darla J. (Sutton) Smith, age 74, of Toledo, passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Detroit Ave. Darla was born July 31, 1940 in Toledo, Ohio to Elbert “Al” Sutton and Grace (Arnold) Austermiller. She married Harlan A. Smith in 1964 and he preceded her in death January 26, 1982. She will be fondly remembered by many loved ones.

Darla is survived by her sisters, Gloria (Sutton) Love and Kathleen (Hale) White of Toledo; Mary (Hale) Campbell of Phoenix; brothers, William (Kelly) Hale of Haskins, Ohio and Robert Hale of Toledo; aunt, LaDonna Grames of Grand Rapids, Ohio; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Darla was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ralph and Blanche (Bowers) Arnold, Charles and Carrie (Davis) Sutton; parents, Elbert “Al” Sutton and Grace (Sutton) Austermiller; sister-in-law, Nancy Hale, and special friend Theresa Nieman-Skepenski.

The family will receive guests, Friday January 23, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4752 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo (419-381-1900). Funeral Services will begin Saturday at 10:00 am. at the funeral home with Pastor Tim Marr of Calvary Bible Chapel officiating. Interment will be private.

The family expresses thanks to doctors and staff at UTMC, Nurses Shellee and Beth, Dr. Collier, Heatherdowns Rehabilitation and Advanced Specialty Hospital and Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

One of Darla’s great joys was the times she spent as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary where she made numerous long-time friends. She also made many friends at her apartment at Arlington by the Lake. To borrow a phrase from Grandmother Blanche’s headstone, “Always a Smile.” Darla had been dealt a tremendous amount of adversity beginning on May 27, 1963 as the result of a horrendous automobile accident that broke her back and crushed her left femur. Through it all she never lost her faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Darla's memory.