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by Tom Boyle [email protected] TOWNVILLE � A familiar face at the post office will still been seen around the borough, although not as postmaster. Gloria Smith is retiring after two and one-half decades with the postal service, most of which was served in Townville. �I�m a people person,� said Smith during a get-together at the firehall for friends and family on Sunday. �That�s the one reason I liked the job so much.� But Smith said she plans to remain active in the community with the folks she has come to know so well. �I plan to enjoy my life now,� she said of the future. �I do crafting. I have eight grandchildren and I plan to spoil them as much as a can.� Smith said she will also spend time with her daughters � Taunya and Tanis � and do some traveling. Although Smith has been to such places as New Orleans and Gulf Port, Miss., she hopes to see Texas, Italy and make a return trip to a country in which she had lived for a year � Germany. A Titusville native, Smith previously worked as a beautician, bartender, waitress, teacher�s aide and salesperson. �Jack of all trades, master of none,� she commented. Smith started with the postal service in 1980 on a part-time basis, filling in as needed. �When the regular carrier called in, I used to do it,� said Smith. �I didn�t mind at all. I was part-time then. I would call and ask them if they wanted me to work.� She could also be seen picking up mail, driving a post office jeep and even doing janitor work during those years. Her work was divided between the post offices of Centerville, Titusville, Spartansburg and Hydetown, with Centerville as her main office. Promoted to postmaster in 1985, Smith then spent 20 years doing something she likes best � dealing with people. �No day is like the day before,� she said of a post office. �Every day is different. I like working in a small office more than a large office. In a small office like this I know all the kids, I know all the grandkids.� Smith said one aspect of her former job she did not like was delivering the mail, especially in the city. A big reason for her dislike of going door-to-door throughout the many neighborhoods in town was because of dogs. �One carrier got bit six times in one week,� said Smith. She also related an incident in which a white German Shepherd came running out at her when Smith was trying to deliver the mail. �I would not go into the house,� said Smith. �The lady said to come in, but refused to put the dog away. I would not walk into that yard.� Although the customer reported her to post office officials, Smith explained that as long as the dog was in the woman�s yard, she did not have to deliver the mail. Taking over on an interim basis following Smith�s retirement will be another well-known Townville resident. Linda Kinnear has worked postmaster relief for 23 years and will serve customers in the borough office until a permanent postmaster is elected. Looking back over her career, Smith admitted that serving with the United States Postal Service was one of the best things to happen to her. �It was the one job I stayed with the longest,� said Smith. �It�s been great. I have absolutely no regrets about it.� Add a comment |
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