COSHOCTON- Richard Dale Smith, 86, a resident of Autumn Healthcare, died Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at the care center.
He was born Nov. 6, 1924 in Benton, OH to the late Harry K. and Erma B. (Snyder) Smith. He married Jane Frances (Albery) Smith on March 6, 1948, who preceded him in death on Dec. 4, 2009. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the United States Army, and was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with three Bronze Stars. He served in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers as Assistant of Operations for the Beach City Dam from 1954-1956, and was Superintendant of Operations for the Mohawk Dam from 1957-1982. He was a lifetime member of the Coshocton Campers Club, a 50 year member of the Warsaw Masonic Lodge #255, and a member of the Coshocton Shriners. He loved traveling, wintering in Frostproof, FL with his wife for many years, and he also loved spending time with his family.
He is survived by five children; Pacer (Sharon) Smith of Plainfield, Thomas K. (Linda) Smith of Wheeling, WV, Sherilyn K. (Terry) Wisenburg of Coshocton, Lorna J. (Robert) Holehouse of Columbus, and Brent R. (Susan) Smith of Columbus, eight grandchildren, three sisters; Eileen (Clayton) Hershberger of Walnut Creek, Marilyn (Ed) Parsons of Nashville, and Martha (Pete) Waltman of Florida, and a sister-in-law, Nancy Smith of Millersburg.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a brother, Carlos "Ace" Smith, and a half-brother, Clarence Fry.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2011 at the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw with Pastor Bryan Kittner officiating. Interment will follow in Coshocton Co. Memory Gardens, with graveside military rites conducted by the Coshocton Co. Joint Veterans Council. Calling hours are from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, with a Masonic Service at 7:45 p.m., and also visitation one hour prior to service time on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 1500 Pleasant Valley Dr., Coshocton, OH 43812 or to the Alzheimer's Association / Central Ohio Chapter, 3380 Tremont Rd., Columbus, OH 43221.
