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- NEWPORT NEWS - Jo Farthing Polhamus Smith of Newport News died Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at age 92. Jo was born July 23, 1923, in Watauga County, NC, to the late Herbert and Stella Farthing, the youngest and last surviving of their five children. After graduating from Bethel High School in Watauga County, Jo earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from The Woman's College of UNC (now UNC-Greensboro) in 1944.
This degree led her to a job with NACA (predecessor of NASA) as a "computer" at Langley Research Center in Hampton. At NACA she played on the women's basketball team coached by young aeronautical engineer Edward C. Pollhamus, and they were married in October of 1945. Jo and "Eddie" had four sons: Edward C. Polhamus, Jr. (wife Linda) of Danville, William F. Polhamus (wife Linda) of Roanoke, and twins David and Daniel who died in infancy in 1960. After Eddie's death in 2001, Jo married widower G. Bernard Smith, who died in 2009. Jo and Eddie were active members of North Riverside Baptist Church for almost fifty years. Jo was most active in the WMU and in the church library. Bernard and his first wife Jean were also long-time active members of North Riverside, so Bernard and Jo continued that involvement to the extent permitted by their health. Jo also did volunteer work with Meals-on-Wheels, at Riverside Medical Center, and at the Virginia Baptist Home in Newport News, which was expanded to become The Chesapeake retirement center, where Jo lived from 2003 until her death.
In addition to her sons Ed and Bill, Jo is survived by step-children Dick (wife Joann) Smith of Williamsburg and Kim (husband Craig) Moore of Poquoson, Ed's sons Winston Polhamus of Virginia Beach and William (wife Tara) Polhamus of Midlothian and their mother Sheila Rust of Roanoke, Bill's sons Brian Polhamus and Scott Polhamus of Roanoke, Ed's step-children Devin Laflamme of Danville and Brenda (husband Adam) Taylor of Danville, and Kim's three sons of Poquoson. Jo's great-grandchildren include Cole and Josie Polhamus of Midlothian, along with Delaney West and Ava Taylor of Danville. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and her church family. Jo loved all of her family deeply and continuously.
A memorial service for Jo Farthing Polhamus Smith will be held at North Riverside Baptist Church, 311 Selden Road, Newport News, on Saturday, November 7, at 2:00 P.M., with a private burial at a later date. The Polhamus family would like to thank all the staff at The Chesapeake who served Jo so faithfully for 12 years, the staff of W. J. Smith and Son Funeral Home, and Interim Pastor Chris Gourley of North Riverside Baptist.
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1923 - 2015 (92 years)
