Mary Elizabeth Fluharty, 90, Longtime Educator and JournalistMary Elizabeth Foster Fluharty, 90, of Smithfield, died July 14, 2009 at Delaware Court Health Care Center, Delaware, Ohio.A lifelong resident of Smithfield, Ohio, she was born on the family farm near there and attended Smithfield Elementary and High School. A 1940 cum laude graduate from Ohio Wesleyan University, her journalism career began at the Reynoldsburg, Ohio Press. She later was radio editor of the Columbus Bureau of the United Press International, a feature writer for the Columbus Citizen, an editor for the Ohio Farm Bureau News, and a general reporter for United Press International.Following her 1945 marriage to Irwin A. Fluharty, the couple returned to the family farm, where they lived throughout their lives, and began longtime Ohio Valley careers in education and journalism. Mrs. Fluharty taught high school English for over thirty years in the Smithfield and Buckeye Local school systems, and was the Jefferson County reporter for the Wheeling Intelligencer during most of that time. She was also involved in numerous agriculture and community service endeavors, serving as one of the first female members of the Jefferson County Fair Board.She was preceded in death by her husband; a brother, William Foster; and a sister, Lois Jean Foster; as well as her parents, Octa and Charles Foster. Surviving are two sons, Francis Lee (Janis Hanna) Fluharty, Olmsted Township, Ohio; Charles William (Marsha) Fluharty, of Columbia, Missouri; five grandchildren, Matthew (Kelly), Joshua (Crystal), Megan (Shawn Showers), Justin, and Erin; and one great-grandchild, William.A private service was held and a community memorial service will follow in the near future. E-mailed condolences may be sent to , tribute messages forwarded to the J. E. Foster Funeral Home at , and memorial contributions made to the Smithfield Historical Society.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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