Sylvia M. Smith

Dr. Sylvia Marie (Thomas) Smith 60, passed away at her home in Panama City Beach, Florida on September 7, 2019. Born in Heidelberg, Germany on January 22, 1959 to her parents, Renate K. and the late Karl J. Thomas. She attended Milford, Delaware Sr. High School and went on to graduate from LaSalle University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science with honors in Chemistry and Biology. She worked as a Chemist at Dentsply in Milford, DE before enrolling in the College of Chiropractic at Palmer University in Davenport, Iowa from where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Sylvia, and her husband, Dr. Michael Smith, grew numerous very successful Chiropractic practices throughout the northwest Florida panhandle in Panama City, Panama City Beach, Tallahassee, Santa Rosa Beach, Crestview, Ft. Walton and Pensacola. From 1987-1997 Bay Chiropractic Center, from 1997-2000 Advanced Medical Physician’s Group and 2001 – present/2019 Waterside Chiropractic + Medical. Sylvia was fiercely passionate about her profession and patients. She also found great joy in her artwork, but her children were her greatest successes. A celebration of life was held at her home four days before her death, where her friends and family came to celebrate and toast in fellowship. Sylvia was preceded in death by her father, Karl Thomas, of Milford, DE and sister Diane Thomas Renzi of Lothian, MD. She is survived by her husband, Michael Smith, her children, Michaela Smith and fiancé, Connor McKenzie, of Malibu, CA, Race Smith of Panama City Beach, FL., her mother, Renate K. Thomas of Milford, DE, sister Cynthia Thomas of Milford, DE and brother Karl J. Thomas of Lewes, DE, brother-in-law, Rico Renzi of Lothian, MD, and three nephews, a niece and one great nephew. She is also survived by lifelong friend Leslie Walters Gossett who championed her through this journey. A memorial Mass will be held at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Milford, DE on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be to the St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Milford, DE to the Oktoberfest celebration, an event that her family founded that continues annually.

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