Carl "Dick" Smith

Carl Richard “Dick” Smith went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 16, 2014. He died at his daughter and son-in-law’s home in Tuppers Plains, Ohio surrounded by his loving family. Dick was born December 9, 1925 in Portsmouth, Ohio to the late Carl Ray and Sarah Louise McCall Smith. His mother died when he was just six years old and he and his father went to live at his Grandfather’s homestead with his grandfather and four aunts, who helped raise him. He graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1942, after which he joined the US Navy. He served in World War II as an Aviation Ordnanceman, third class, on the carrier USS Leyte in the South Pacific. He was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, the Victory Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal. He graduated from University of Cincinnati. He started his career as an accountant at Ernst & Ernst Accounting in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked for 22 years, including four years in Erie Pennsylvania. Returning to Ohio, he continued his career at Wilberforce University as controller, retiring in 1992 as the Vice President of Wilberforce, where he received an Honorary Doctorate’s degree. Dick was a quiet, loving and generous man of integrity. He attended Christ Community Wesleyan Church in Albany, Ohio and was a member of the American Legion. He met the love of his life, Josephine King, on his birthday in Portsmouth after his discharge from the service and they married three months later on March 14, 1947. They were married 53 years, until his wife’s passing on April 8, 2000. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, David Patterson Smith of Shelby, Ohio. He was also preceded by his best friend, his cousin, Tommy Cropper of Grove City, Ohio, with whom he was raised. He was also preceded by his sister-in-law, Virginia Faye Gabbert of Anchorage, Alaska, his brother-in-laws, Ted and Bill King of Little Rock, Arkansas. Dick is survived by his son, Carl Randy (Kristen) Smith, Columbus, Ohio, his daughter, Sue (Phil) Shaw, Tuppers Plains, Ohio. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Georg-Christian (Brooke) Morris Jupiter, Florida, Stephanie Marie Morris, Athens, Ohio, Benjamin Joseph (Emily Oberlin) Morris, Sarasota, Florida, Dustin (Brittany) Leroux Johnson, Camp Lejune, North Carolin, Keegan (Katie Durst) Shaw, of the home, Carl Riordan (Lauren) Smith and Caitlyn Smith. Also surviving are his great-grandchildren, Tanner Neutzling Morris, Sarasota, Florida, Lantz, Trace, and Kai Morris Jupiter, Florida, Sophia Anne Shaw of the home, Peyton and Natalie Nicole Leroux Johnson, Camp Lejune, NC, and Lorelai Kathleen Hazel Smith of Columbus, Ohio. He also leaves his sister-in-law, Opal Yates, of Brandon, Florida, several nieces and nephews and good friend Allison Gaddis, Tuppers Plains, Ohio. Calling hours will be Wednesday from 6-8 pm at Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home in Athens, Ohio. Funeral services will be at Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home on Thursday at 11:00 am. Wth Rev. Denver Dodrill officiating.Military burial services will take place in Wheelersburg, Ohio. You may sign the online guestbook or leave a private message of sympathy for the family at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com.