Susan Carol Smith van Vonno
Born on August 5, 1938 in Darby, PennsylvaniaDeparted July 31, 2022 in Melbourne, Florida
Susan (‘Sue’) Carol Smith van Vonno passed away on July 31 2022 in Melbourne, Florida after a short fight with an unrelenting illness.
Sue was born on 5 August 1938 in Darby, Pennsylvania to Charles Smith and V. Mae McCullam Smith. She grew up in Brookline and Drexel Hill, both in Pennsylvania, and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1955 with her husband Kenneth Walters. Later she and Ken moved to Melbourne when it was still a cowboy town, with quiet two-lane roads and a beautiful, crystal-clear Indian River. Sue graduated from Melbourne High School in 1976 but always identified with Eau Gallie. Sue and Kenneth had five children: Charles Kenneth Walters (who died as an infant), Cynthia (Cyndi) Lynn Walters Henry, Christine (Chris) Lee Henderson, Carol Sue Reed and Alan Gregory Walters.
Sue was always a loyal and committed employee of Radiation, Incorporated, Harris Semiconductor and Collins Radio (now Collins Aerospace), mostly in supervisory roles, and developed life-long friendships with many fellow employees. She retired from Collins in 1989 and devoted much of her time to genealogical research and patriotic organizations. She was a board member of the Genealogical Society of South Brevard and a member of the Commodore John Barry chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of Union Veterans, the National Rifle Association and the Brevard Federated Republican Women. Sue was also an active board member of the Melbourne Liberty Bell Museum. She put together several successful family reunions and in the words of Nick’s older brother Klaas: ‘Sue brings people together’. I can think of no greater compliment.
In 1989 Sue married Nick van Vonno of Melbourne. Nick was an engineer at Harris Semiconductor, and business travel took the couple to exciting destinations all over Europe and the US. She loved cruises and took many, including a memorable trip to Australia and New Zealand and several Transatlantic crossings and Panama Canal transits.
Sue was predeceased by her first husband Kenneth Walters, by her daughter Christine Henderson and by her grandsons Phillip Alan Henry and Kenneth (Kenny) Alan Walters. She is survived by her husband Nicolaas W. van Vonno of Melbourne and children Cyndi (Jimmie) Henry of Titusville, Alan (Nancy) Walters of Titusville, Carol Reed of Sheridan, Wyoming and stepson Nicolaas J. (Sabrina) van Vonno of Melbourne as well as eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She also leaves a grieving host of cousins, nephews, nieces and lifelong friends.
Sue was a firm believer in tough love, and her children were successful in their chosen fields. She was well known for her skills in decorating her Indian River home in Melbourne. She was always kind and most generous to anyone who crossed her path, but equally she most certainly spoke her mind even if you perhaps did not want to hear it. Those who knew her will attest to her tremendous loyalty, her strong work ethic, her spontaneous sense of humor and her ability to make people laugh.
A service will be held at Brownlie and Maxwell Funeral Home (321 723 2345) in Melbourne at noon on October 8, 2022. Donations may be made in Sue’s name to the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or the Hospice organization of your choice.
