Ardeth S. Trowbridge

Ardeth S. Trowbridge Ardeth Suzanne Trowbridge, 81, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 18, 2012 after a brief struggle with cancer at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha, Nebraska. Ardeth was born June 6, 1930 to Otto and Suzanne Klabunde in Omaha, where she graduated from Benson High School in 1948. She was married to Lloyd Smith, by whom she had five children, including two sets of twins, before divorcing in 1956. Fiercely proud and independent, Ardeth refused any public assistance, and worked in a series of jobs for the next seven years to support the children she loved as a single mother. In the early 1960s she began working for the U.S. Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Base, and in 1963 married Leonard C. Trowbridge, to whom she would remain married until his death in 1995. As a professional secretary, Ardeth worked in a number of offices at Offutt, gradually rising to serve with many of the SAC top brass in her 30-year career with the Air Force. She finished her career in the late 1980s and early 1990s with a flourish and a sense of adventure, accepting an assignment to work with senior Air Force staff at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, where she and Leonard, then retired, did charitable work through their church, in addition to further travels in Southeast Asia. Ardeth was highly active in numerous professional associations, including American Business Women, where she held several offices, and the International Association of Administrative Professionals. In retirement, she remained active with the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), where she rose to become president of her local chapter. Her long and outstanding career with the U.S. Air Force was featured in an article published in the Air Force Times. Retirement hardly slowed Ardeth down, and she remained highly engaged not only with her professional associations, but also with many church and senior social groups, where she was always a ready friend and a helping hand to many of her peer seniors. She was especially fond of her friendships through the Red Hat Society, at one time a member of three different chapters, and enjoyed monthly “Bunny Lunches” with her sister alumnae from the Benson High School Class of ’48. A loyal wife and loving parent, Ardeth will be missed and her memory cherished by her children, Michael Smith of Snowmass Village, CO; Dennis Smith (Molly) of Des Moines, IA; Daniel Smith of Jamestown, NC; and Robert Smith (Sue) of Culpepper, VA; brothers Otto Klabunde Jr. of Omaha and Charles Klabunde (Lee Boyd) of Easton, PA; as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Besides her parents, Ardeth was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard, and daughter Robin Williams. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 4-8PM at Braman Mortuary (Southwest Chapel) where the family will welcome guests. A celebration of life will be held Thursday, 10:00AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, (13271 Millard Ave.) with interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha. A reception and luncheon will follow at the church. Ardeth fought and overcame colon cancer in 2003. Never one to concede defeat easily, she believes she has now fought cancer to a draw. In lieu of flowers, Ardeth and her family therefore ask friends and family to continue the battle with contributions to the American Cancer Society. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 4-8PM at Braman Mortuary (Southwest Chapel) where the family will welcome guests. A celebration of life will be held Thursday, 10:00AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, (13271 Millard Ave.) with iInterment at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha. A reception and luncheon will follow at the church.