Shirley Ann Glindmyer Smith, 94, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2026, at Atria Senior Living in Newport Beach, California.

Born on July 5, 1932, in Scotia, New York, Shirley grew up on a dairy farm before graduating from Scotia High School in 1950. She then joined the workforce at the General Electric Research Laboratory in Schenectady, NY. On October 25, 1952, she married the love of her life, Bob Smith. Just seventeen days into their marriage, Bob was deployed by the U.S. Army to Asia during the Korean War, leaving Shirley to hold down the fort for 18 months, a fitting start to a 62-year partnership defined by resilience, devotion, and spirited companionship. After Bob returned home from the war, they moved to Southern California, where they lived for the rest of their lives.

Affectionately known as "SAS," Shirley brought unrelenting devotion to her family, guiding them with a careful hand, firm boundaries, and plenty of room to grow. She lived fully and with genuine joy, embracing humor, deep friendships, fast cars, reading, elegant fashion, travel, the outdoors, and, last but not least, chocolate. An accomplished athlete, she excelled in competitive sports as an A-level tennis player, low-handicap golfer, and slalom skier. Shirley was also deeply devoted to all of her family pets and remained passionate about animals throughout her life, actively supporting causes including Wild Haven Ranch in Lake Arrowhead and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Agnes (Jensen) Glindmyer, her beloved husband, Bob, and her siblings, Earl and Evelyn (Canfield) Glindmyer.

She is survived by her sons, Robert and Clay (Ellen); her grandchildren, Tiffany Watson Snow, Piper Smith Beal, Clayton Smith, and Jenna Smith; and her great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Ellie, and Sadie Snow; and Ford, Riley, and Blair Beal.

A private memorial will be held this fall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley’s memory to Wild Haven Ranch or The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.