Velma Bischoff Smith passed away December 16, 2025 at St. Joseph Hospital Lake St. Louis at the age of 94 years. She was born in St. Louis, MO to Clarence and Maggie Dalena Saylor. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, her sister and her husbands Edmund Bischoff, Jr. and Willard Smith.

Mrs. Smith taught school for thirty two years. She taught for thirty years at De Soto and two years at Grandview, with third grade being her favorite because, as she often said, ‘that is when the learning light comes on.” She was a member of the First Baptist Church De Soto where she taught Sunday school for over sixty years.

Among her survivors are her son Stephen (Sue) Bischoff, O’Fallon, MO; granddaughters, Beth Bischoff and Rebecca (Matt) Martin and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse or Billy Graham Ministries.