Esther Smith, 104, died peacefully surrounded by friends at her home in Lakeland, Florida on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. She was born on June 19, 1920 in Asheville, NC to Major & Mrs. Glen Washburn, Salvation Army Officers. 17 years of her adult life were spent as an Officer in The Salvation Army, in several appointments in the South. Esther graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and from the University of Michigan with a M.S. Degree in Elementary Education. Teaching experiences included Florida and Michigan in the States, and overseas in Okinawa and Germany for the Department of Defense U.S. Dependent Schools. After retiring, she served as a Lay Missionary teacher for The Salvation Army in Korea and Russia. In 2003 she married Salvation Army Brigadier Luther Smith, (who received the high distinction of The Order of the Founder award with The Salvation Army), and moved to Birmingham, Alabama. After his death in 2011, she returned to Lakeland, Florida. She has been active in the local Salvation Army and as a volunteer at Oakbridge Healthcare Center. In addition to her parents and husband, Esther is preceded in death by sister Violet Keeler and her husband Ira; brother Wycliffe "Whitey" Washburn and his wife Patricia; brother Leroy Washburn and his wife Louise, and a number of nieces and nephews. She is survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at The Salvation Army's George W. Jenkins Community of Hope, 2455 Jim Galloway Rd Lakeland, FL 33810. Visitation will be 4:30-5:15PM with service to follow at 5:30PM. A memorial service and burial will be in Port Huron, Michigan. Memorials may be made to The Salvation Army's George W. Jenkin's Community of Hope.