T. Isabelle Smart

Isavelle "Izzy" Van Petten – Smart, 93, died January 25, 2018. Visitation is Tuesday, January 30 from 1-8 PM with family receiving friends from 5-7 PM at Smith Mortuary, Rock Road, Derby. Services to be at 10 AM, Wednesday, January 31 at Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 431 South Woodlawn, Derby. Internment following at Derby El Paso Cemetery. Isabelle was born November 27, 1924 in Waterville, Kansas on Thanksgiving Day, the daughter of Ben and Mae Arganbright. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Loren L. Van Petten and Alfred W. Smart; brothers Oren and Dale Arganbright, and sisters Carrie Arganbright, Nellie Travis, and Benetta Gordon. Survivors include sons Alan D. Van Petten of Wichita; Bruce L. Van Petten (Pam) of Victoria, Canada; and daughter Janice (Jerry) Pope of Blue Rapids, Kansas; six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Isabelle married Loren Van Petten, a union that lasted 37 years until his death in 1985. They started their family in Bonner Springs, KS where Isabelle was the wife of a school teacher then administrator. After being a devoted mother until her three children reached school age and a professional move to Derby for her husband, Isabelle worked first for Henry’s of Wichita in their credit department. She then worked as receptionist for Wichita Psychiatric Clinic and later for the clinic of Dr. Santos, also in Wichita. In later years she enjoyed working part time at Dillard’s as a commissioned saleswoman. After thirteen years alone, she married Al Smart, a union which lasted just over three years until his death in 2002. In retirement, Isabelle enjoyed volunteering at the senior center, aqua-aerobics, and devoting hours and days of time to the Methodist Church Thrift Shop. Once she went to assisted living at Sterling House of Derby, she adopted her old nickname of Izzy, by which she was much loved by staff and other residents for her lively spirit and strong will.