Janet L. (Potter) Smedley, 93, of Waynesboro, PA, passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2025 in the Waynesboro Hospital.
Born March 6, 1932 in Waynesboro, she was the daughter of the late George W. and Ida May (Arnold) Potter.
Janet was a lifelong resident of the Waynesboro area, graduating from Waynesboro High School with the Class of 1950.
She and her husband, the late Robert W. (“Stink” “Bobby”) Smedley, were married in September 1954. Robert passed away July 8, 2008.
After high school, Janet attended Indiana State Teachers College (now Indiana University of PA) and graduated in June 1954 with a B.S. degree in Music Education. She acquired her Masters of Music Degree by attending courses at Shippensburg University, Penn State, West Chester University, and the Westminster Choir College.
Janet began her teaching career in Granville Township. After one year completed, she then taught six years in Greencastle-Antrim School District. It is then she began her tenure with the Waynesboro Area School District, dedicating her love of music to enriching the young lives in the elementary schools for 34 years. It did not end there. Janet went on to teach the students at St. Andrew Catholic School of Waynesboro for approximately 15 years.
Although the piano was Janet’s favorite musical instrument, she began her organ playing while a senior in high school. After college, she began her organ playing career for the Waynesboro Church of the Brethren, which lasted for 60 years. She also accompanied choirs, as well as played for numerous weddings and funerals in the Waynesboro area.
Besides being a member of the Church of the Brethren, Janet was a member of the Euterpe (Music) Club, the Waynesboro Community Concert Association, AARP, Waynesboro Hospital Auxiliary, PA Educators Association, and the PA Association of School Retirees. She also belongs to the social club of Waynesboro’s American Legion Post #15, and was honored to be the Grand Marshal of the 2022 Memorial Day Parade.
Janet also had much enjoyment accompanying the Waynesboro Children’s Theatre Troops for their musical plays. Other musical activities she enjoyed being a part of include the South AARP Kitchen Band, and accompanying the comedy team “Two Nuts and a Bolt” of Greencastle.
She loved her family and church, but Janet took no shame in bragging that she had the best job in the world-teaching children to sing, dance and learn to appreciate musical cultures of the entire world. She was also dedicated to spreading love and respect for the U.S. Veterans in the elementary grades by having the Red, White, and Blue programs. She truly went to school every morning with a smile on her face.
She is survived by her three children, Robin Calimer of Waynesboro Susie Smedley of Waynesboro and Bob Smedley (Amy) of Columbus, OH; five grandchildren, Andrea (Derrick), Lauren, Ashley (Erik), Tyler (Ashlee), and Ethan; seven great-grandchildren; 2 step great-grandchildren; her sister, Barbara Walsh (Jack) of Willoughby Hills, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Joy Shatzer who passed away February 18, 2025; and her siblings, Doris Bare (David), George Potter (Dottie), and Arnold Potter (MaryAnn).
Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in the Waynesboro Church of the Brethren, 117 S. Church Street, Waynesboro with Pastor Andrew Paterno officiating. Burial will be private in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro.
The family will receive friends from 12:30 P.M. until 2:00 P.M., Tuesday afternoon, in the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Waynesboro Community Concert Association, P.O. Box 785, Waynesboro, PA 17268 or The Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, is handling the arrangements.
