Susan "Candy" Smith

Susan “Candy” Smith, 80, of Moline, Illinois, passed away on February 11, 2026, at Bickford Cottage in Moline. Candy loved life and lived it to the fullest. She loved people deeply and spent much of her life enjoying laughter, friendship, and meaningful connections.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 28, in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A funeral luncheon will follow at CityView Celebrations at Trimble Pointe. Cremation will take place prior to services at Trimble Funeral Home & Crematory, Moline. Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Faith Lutheran Church in Moline.

Susan “Candy” Caudle was born April 20, 1945, in Greensboro, North Carolina, the daughter of Arlyss Franklin and Alice Susan (Campbell) Caudle. She attended Page High School and later graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She began her professional career as a Disability Examiner for the Social Security Administration in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she worked for five years.

On September 17, 1966, she married Wayne Farrior Smith, and together they shared 59 years of devoted marriage.

After moving to the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities, Candy worked as a receptionist for American Express Financial Services in Bettendorf. She later served as Assistant Manager of Gourmet Foods at Watermark Corners in Moline and eventually became a Sales Associate in the Home Store at Younkers in Des Moines. She and Wayne retired together in 2007.

Candy was very active through her child and teenage years at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Greensboro, especially in youth activities. After relocating, she continued her involvement in church life at Faith Lutheran Church in both the Quad Cities and Des Moines, where she sang in the church choir and played in the bell choir.

Candy had a generous spirit and a passion for volunteering. One of her most treasured commitments was with the Lutheran Hospital Auxiliary, where she served faithfully from 1973 to 1996. During those years, she held leadership roles including President, Regional Board Chairman, and Treasurer/Buyer for the gift shop. She was also dedicated to helping children as a reading tutor for first- and second-grade students at Washington School in Moline through The Literacy Connection. In addition, she volunteered for 20 years at the John Deere Classic Golf Tournament as a scorekeeper, course radio operator, and food server. She was a proud and active member of P.E.O. from 2006 to 2020 and served as president in 2014.

Candy cherished her free time with family and friends. She vacationed frequently with her husband in Europe, Africa, South America, and all over the United States. Summers were spent with her extended family on a beach in North Carolina, and boating, camping, and water skiing on the Mississippi River. In wintertime, she enjoyed snow skiing in Colorado.

Candy is survived by beloved husband, Wayne Smith; daughter, Kimberly (Brian) Swenson; grandchildren, Jacob and Matthew Swenson; two great-grandchildren, Nolan and Elaina Swenson; sister, Betsy (Joseph) Lowman; sisters-in-law, Gayle (Doug) Smedberg and Janis Tucker; and a brother-in-law, Greg Ferguson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Alice Caudle; and her sister-in-law, Teri Ferguson.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.