Marilyn Smith

Marilyn Belt Smith, 77, of St. Louis, passed away on February 26th surrounded by her family.

Marilyn was a retired High School Physics teacher, mom, sister and grandmother. She was a music lover, and Cardinal baseball super fan along with all St. Louis sports. Marilyn was also a passionate animal advocate and donated her time to various animal welfare organizations.

She was inspired to be a teacher by her maternal grandmother, Mary Bertha Phillips, of Marion Being a teacher was her life-long passion. Even when she was not in the classroom, she reminded many that science is a part of everyday life and that Physics are Phun!!

Marilyn graduated from Bayless High School, salutatorian, class of '66. She was an alumni of Mizzou, graduating with a Bachelors in Physics and continued on to receive a Masters in Physics. She did doctoral work in Science Education at Michigan State University. She began her teaching career in Connecticut and then moved to Evansville, Indiana where she raised her daughter, and taught at Reitz Memorial High School and later at Evansville Day School.

She taught at Riverview Gardens after returning to St. Louis and finally Mehlville High School until her retirement in 2018. She also worked as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University.

After retirement, she spent as much time as she could with her daughter and grandsons in Chicago. She enjoyed watching her grandsons play basketball and spent many weekends supporting them.

She is survived by her daughter Jennifer Weltman (Will), grandsons Paul and Sam Weltman, and sister Carol Belt Neimuth (Doug).

We will have a family graveside service in Love Cemetery, Crittenden County, Kentucky on Tuesday, March 10th at 1 pm.

She will be laid to rest next to other family members including her parents, Thomas H. Belt and Edwina Belt, both of Marion, KY. Buried with Marilyn, will be her beloved golden retrievers, Blade and Cali.