Lena Mae Voiles

Lena Mae Voiles passed away peacefully on January 2, 2023, at the age of 93. She is
preceded in passing by her parents Walter and Myrtha Jane Smith, her husband of 52 years, Marvin Lee Voiles, her son Allen Lee Voiles and her nine siblings.

Born Lena Mae Smith in 1929 in Little Crab, Tennessee, she was the sixth of ten children. After marrying Marvin Voiles in 1945, they worked and raised their two boys, Danny and Allen, in Armathwaite. In addition to being an excellent and resourceful homemaker, Lena was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and an employee of the Jamestown Shirt Factory.

Once the boys were grown, the whole family moved to Dayton, Ohio in search of more
industrious employment. Lena was a fixture in their Moraine, Ohio neighborhood - always letting the neighbor kids play in their backyard, sneaking them some candy, and making sure that no one did without. The grandkids loved climbing the crabapple tree in the backyard, pilfering through her interesting trinkets, and staying up late to watch Johnny Carson with her. The highlight of staying the night at Lena and Marv’s, though, was the food. If you ever had Lena’s cooking, it wouldn't surprise you that Marvin always sported a round belly.

Lena lived a long and storied life, and loved to spin yarns about what life was like growing up in a large family in rural Tennessee. She was a great teacher, whether it was making biscuits, gardening, or occasionally teaching the grandchildren a colorful new word. She didn’t keep her quilting secrets closely guarded, but it was difficult to find anyone that matched her skill or love of this hobby. While her hands would still allow her to do it, she completed one of the most difficult patterns known to quilters - the double wedding ring. Her green thumb made her the envy of her neighbors in their little neighborhood, because she always had the best looking roses on the block.

Anyone who met Lena knew that she rarely held her tongue, and would tell you exactly how she felt about things. If you were in a quarrel with someone, she was the person you’d want in your court. As many people with roots in Tennessee will know, she also had plenty of quirky euphemisms for describing how hot or cold it may be outside. If anyone could reveal her soft side besides Marvin, it was her cat Fanny. She loved pampering her feline companion with the finest food and scratch off lottery tickets.

Lena is survived by her son Danny Voiles and his wife Gwen, grandchildren Kenny Voiles,
Nikisha Hughes, Brandy King and husband Jeremy King, and great grandson Samuel King.

Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 1 P.M. at Mundy Funeral Home in Jamestown with burial to follow in the Allardt Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 from 11 A.M. - 1 P.M. at Mundy Funeral Home in Jamestown

The Mundy Funeral Home in Jamestown is in charge of arrangements

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lena Mae Voiles, please visit our floral store.