Richard H. Smith

Richard Harold "Smitty" Smith, age 63, of Casa, passed away after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Richard departed this life on September 2, 2007, at the Arkansas In-Patient Hospice Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born to Buster and Edith Sivage Smith on October 19, 1943, in Rock Springs, Wyoming. He was raised in Arkansas. Richard joined the United States Air Force and retired in 1984 after completing over 22 years of service. He met his wife, Wanda, while both were stationed in Turkey. After retirement, Richard and Wanda moved to her home in the Rose Creek community, and he lived there until his demise. After retirement from the Air Force, Richard worked many years for Koontz Electric and River Valley Sales and Service. Richard was known to his many friends and co-workers as "Smitty". He was a member of Hickory Grove Freewill Baptist Church, volunteered many hours at the Rialto Theater, Great Arkansas Pig Out, and other community projects for Conway and Perry Counties. Richard enjoyed music especially singing and playing his guitar both in church and with the Rialto Pickers. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Alice Hargess and Jean Warner, and his brother Leo Smith. He is survived by his wife, Wanda Kohn Smith, daughter, Melissa Jones and husband Jimmy of Homer, Alaska; son, Anthony Smith of Conway Arkansas; daughter, Kohnie Stickley and husband Neil of Ivercargill, New Zealand; step-son, Richard Tingley and wife Susan of Grand Prairie, Texas; grandchildren, Alex Musser, Angela Musser, Ace Smith, Emily Jones and Elizabeth Jones; step-grandchildren, Daryl and Rachel Tingley; sister, Mary Fern Whitaker and husband Bud of Cave City, Arkansas; brother Rickey Smith and wife JoAnn of Fort Smith, Arkansas and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 5, at Harris Chapel with Rev. Geno Johnston and Rev. Darrell Barnes officiating. Burial will be at Fitch Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. The family will receive friends 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to: Arkansas Hospice, Attention: Memorials Foundation, 5600 West 12th St., Little Rock, Arkansas 72204 or Hickory Grove Freewill Baptist Church, 26 Hwy 155, Casa, Arkansas 72025.

Richard H. Smith

October 19, 1943 - September 2, 2007