Richard Allen Smith Sr.

Richard Allen Smith (Smitty), U.S. Army Colonel (retired), died on July 16, 2016, at 3:00 am in Hendersonville Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernice (Solberg) and George William Smith of Amery, WI; grandparents, Andrew W. and Marie (Acker) Solberg of Arland, WI; Audrey “Dora” (Knowlton) and William O. Baldwin of Rice Lake, WI; brother, Leroy George Smith (USN Retired); sister Melodie D. Smith of Ellsworth, WI; and grandson, Sean P. Edmonson (Laurie) of St. Charles, MO. Richard, a native of Arland, WI, graduated from Barron H.S. in 1951, Austin Peay University in 1973, and Central Michigan University in 1979. On September 7, 1951, he joined the Army and was deployed directly to Korea where he served in the 187th ABN RCT. Richard was commissioned 2nd LT after completing Office Candidate School in July 1957. In 1959 he graduated from the Army Aviation Flight School at Ft. Rucker, AL. During his Army career, Richard served in both the Korea and Vietnam Wars and was stationed in Okinawa, Turkey, and Germany. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and other medals; however, he was the proudest of his Combat Infantry Badge, Master Aviator Wings, and Airborne Wings. In 1997 he was inducted into the OCS Hall of Fame at Ft. Benning, GA. Richard served a total of 34 years active duty in the Army before retiring as a Colonel in 1985. Following his retirement, he worked for Lockheed Martin in Burbank, CA and Marietta, GA until he retired in 1997. Richard participated in leadership roles in community activities both pre and post retirement. Some of the activities included the Military Order of the World Wars, Military Officers Assn. of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Army Aviation Assn., Management Assn. of America, Quiet Birdman, and the Alumni Assn. of the schools he attended. He was active in Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Hendersonville, TN, and served with the Knights of Columbus in the Assembly as Past Faithful Navigator and on all the council and assembly activities to support the church and community. Richard is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shirley Stacey Smith; daughter Catherine Bode (Jim) of O’Fallon, MO; son, Richard A. Smith Jr. (Connie) of Cecilia, KY; daughter Donna “Liz” Green of Sumner, GA; grandchildren, Bradley S. Edmondson (Michelle) of St. Louis, MO; Gina E. Hausman (Andy) of St. Charles; Ashley M. Burnett (Tyler) of Elizabethtown, KY; Lauren M. Hamm (Kyle) of Winder, GA; Justin A. Bode of O’Fallon, MO; Erin R. Green of Kennesaw, GA; great grandchildren, Zoe Parker, Maxwell Parker, Michael Helker, Emily Edmondson, Ashlynn Hamm, Josslyn Tinney, Clark Hamm, Meredith Edmondson, Clark Edmondson, Walter Hamm, Reed Burnett; sister, Carol Christenson of Prairie Farm, WI; brothers, Curtis D. Smith (Victoria) of Lake St. Mary, FL; Roger R. Smith (Anita) of Ridgeland, WI; Bruce A. Smith (Melanie) of Dresser, WI; several nieces and nephews, many grand nieces and nephews, one aunt, and other beloved relatives and friends. Visitation will be held on Wednesday July 20, 2016 from 6-8 pm (Vigil at 7:30 pm) at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Hendersonville, TN. A second viewing will be offered at 10 am, followed by a funeral service at 11 am, on Thursday July 21, 2016 at Mount Olivet Funeral Home in Nashville, TN. The Knights of Columbus will stand guard over Richard at the viewing and will be active pallbearers.