Margaret Inez Smith

It is with great sadness that the family of Margaret “Meg” Smith announces her unexpected and sudden passing on June 20, 2023 in Tucson, AZ due to complications arising from an aortic rupture.

Meg was born in Summit, NJ on March 14,1960 and was raised in Piscataway, NJ before attending Colorado State University, where she earned an undergraduate degree in 1982. She also completed an MBA degree with Golden Gate University in 1985.

Following her graduation from college, Meg was commissioned as an officer in the US Air Force, serving for 13 years as a Communications specialist, separating with the rank of Captain in 1995. She married JR, a career officer, in Williamsburg, VA during their first Air Force assignment together in 1986 and embarked on her career as a mother a year later when Ryan arrived. Jared and Joshua would follow in 1992 and 1996 respectively, during a time when the military family moved to 12 locations in the US and Europe over 20 years. After the Air Force, Meg and her family settled in Tucson, AZ in 2008.

After her Air Force tenure, Meg was employed over the years as a defense consultant, data analyst and contracting officer. She maintained a passion for teaching at all levels K-12, something she inherited from her mother and passed on to son Jared. Meg’s volunteer work was particularly noteworthy, including her presidency of the largest overseas Air Force officer spouses’ club at Ramstein, Germany where she oversaw a charity bazaar in 2004 that generated over $1 million in sales. She also presided over Vail AZ’s Rotary Club and was active with the Empire High School booster club. She took great delight in travel, her bowling team, opening her home to friends and family, setting the standard for holiday decorating, reading, and her cats.

Meg took justifiable pride in her sons, who she considered her greatest accomplishment. Certainly, her greatest joy was her granddaughters.

Meg is survived by her loving husband of 37 years James “J.R.” Smith; devoted sons Ryan, Jared, and Joshua; cherished daughter-in-law Robyn and granddaughters Ada, Vera, and Elsie; loving mother Dorothy Sonnenberg; adoring sister Beth Moloughney, brother-in-law Jim Moloughney and family; loving mother-in-law Madge Smith; affectionate sisters-in-law Karen Sallade, Gail Rutigliano and their families; as well as a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces who grieve with her passing. She was preceded in death by her father Martin Sonnenberg.

Funeral services will take place on Friday, July 7, 2023, at 3 pm at the Joseph J. Pula Funeral Home, Inc., 23 North 9th Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360.  Family will receive friends from 2 – 4 pm.  She will be laid to rest next to her father at Laurel Grove Memorial Park in Totowa, NJ on Saturday, July 8, at 10:30 am. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 9071 E Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85710.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for Meg Smith can be sent to: The Rotary Club of Vail, AZ Foundation, P.O. Box 432, Vail, AZ  85641

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