Suzanne P. Smith

Suzanne “Sue” Petersen Smith, age 93, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2026. She was born in 1933, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Herbert and Gertrude Petersen.

When Sue was 4 years old, the family moved to Wichita, Kansas where her father was recruited to manage the Millinery Department of Buck’s Department Store. Sue graduated from Wichita East High School, class of 1951, and then attended Kansas State University for her freshman year. It was there that she met David Lee Smith and they were married in July of 1952. Together they raised two sons, Herbert Cameron “H.C.” and Douglas Edward “Doug.” They were married nearly 67 years until David’s passing in 2019.

Sue began working for the engineering department of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in the fall of 1952. Through determination and commitment, and with company sponsored training, she became a skilled and dedicated Engineering Associate. She retired from the company in the fall of 1988.

Sue and David loved to travel, and together they visited several destinations on four of the seven continents. They also loved the performing arts and regularly attended performances at venues around the globe as well as their beloved Topeka Civic Theatre, where they were also Volunteer House Managers.

Sue was a voracious reader and an avid and astute Bridge player and continued to do both until just a few months before her death.

Per Sue’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral service.