Richard Smith's Obituary
Denver— On a spring day in 1928, Margery and Edward Smith welcomed their only son, Richard, into their lives. After a long and productive life, Richard left this Earth on April 28, 2023.
Richard’s earliest years were spent in the small farming community of Maxwell, Iowa along with his three sisters, Jackie, Maryanne and Betty during the Great Depression. Richard’s family moved to Chicago in his early childhood years, and he was raised there, graduated from Lane Tech High School, and served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict era aboard the USS Fulton where he learned and honed his skills as a tool and die maker. A skilled craftsman with a keen mechanical mind and high attention to detail, Richard was a life-long member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union and a proud Chicago-style old school Democrat.
While in the Navy, Richard met and married his wife of over 70 years, Duckie, who he lost in January of 2023. Richard and Duckie were blessed with eight children, and they established their home and raised their close-knit family in the western suburbs of Chicago. Richard is survived by seven of his children, Jim Smith (and wife Cody), Julie Nelson (and husband David), John Smith, Cindy Bramhall (and husband Tom), Mark Smith, Steve Smith (and wife Errin) and Andy Smith (and wife Debbie) along with 28 grandchildren and great grandchildren. His baby daughter Debbie, the second oldest child, died shortly after child birth. After retirement, Dick and Duckie moved to North Carolina where they had lived for the past 25 years. Grandpa Dick was revered for his common sense, love of life and dedication to his family.
As a product of the Depression Era, Richard was a serious steward of the Earth. He was a dedicated conservationist, recycle enthusiast and friend and supporter of all forms of wildlife. He was known to walk miles each day along roadsides in the Lake Norman area where he did his part to keep the area orderly and litter free. Richard was also a man that cared deeply about his fellow man. He volunteered at his church and was a key member of the building and grounds maintenance effort, and he was always ready to lend a hand to neighbors near or far in any way. Richard loved music and was always ready to dance when the opportunity arose, and he was quite fond of the sweet stuff and was a frequent Dairy Queen patron.
Richard’s family and friends will deeply miss his big smile, his warm, caring heart and his wise yet sometimes interesting view of today’s world. He was concerned by those that he believed “didn’t know sic em”, but he loved and cared for them just the same. He was a complicated, uncomplicated guy. And he will be truly missed by everyone who had the privilege to know him.
A celebration of Richard’s life will be held Thursday May 11, 2023 at 3:30 pm at his church, Salem United Methodist Church in Denver, NC, and the family will receive friends at Richard and Duckie’s home afterward. Richard’s family is especially grateful to Mariela Busheva, NP-C for her care of both Duckie and Richard.
James Funeral Home is serving the family.
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