Jim was born June 12, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Edward and Sylvia (Vacker) Smith. He grew up in the Chicago area and graduated from Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn. In 1961 he earned his bachelor’s degree from Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, and in November of that year he married Sharon Peters. Jim and Sharon lived with their two children in the Chicago area; Gastonia, North Carolina; and Richmond, Indiana. Jim remained in Richmond for most of his retirement years, until he moved to Hot Springs in 2019.
Jim was an accountant for over twenty-five years for the Belden Corporation, and later for Miller Dairy in Cambridge City, Indiana. He also volunteered extensively in his community, through his church and Kiwanis. Jim will be remembered by his family for his strong work ethic and wonderful sense of humor.
Jim is survived by his children, Chris (Amber) of Sherwood, Arkansas and Sara Peterson (Brian) of Altoona, Iowa; his grandchildren, David Smith of Little Rock, Arkansas, Andrew Smith of Honolulu, Hawaii, Braydon Smith of Sherwood, Arkansas, Maria Peterson of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Henry Peterson of Altoona, Iowa; and his brother, Paul, of Manteno, Illinois.
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