Lt. Col. RIchard Paul SMITH (Ret.)

SMITH, BOWER, RYAN, GAMBLE, AVISE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/10/2012 at 20:46:11

Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
July 16, 2005

INDIANOLA — Lt. Col. Richard Paul SMITH (Ret.), 78, died Thursday (July 14, 2005) at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. The body was cremated.

A memorial gathering will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Dunn's Funeral Home, 2121 Grand Ave. in Des Moines. Graveside services and burial will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Rockwell Cemetery in Rockwell.

Richard was born the son of Nasena (BOWER) and Paul SMITH on May 3, 1927, in Rockwell and graduated from Rockwell High School in 1944. He furthered his education at Iowa State University, the University of Georgia and the University of Hawaii.

Richard was an Army veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action during the Korean War. He retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel. He was a member of American Legion Post 208, VFW Post 5515, the 25th Infantry Division Association, Military Officers Association, Korean War Veterans Association and the OCS Alumni Association. After retiring from the Army, he was employed by EMC Insurance and the Selective Service System.

Richard is survived by his wife, Betty, of Indianola; daughters, Laurie (Craig) RYAN of Camdenton, Mo., and Barbara (Jim) GAMBLE of Des Moines; a son, Mark (LuAnn) SMITH of West Des Moines; a brother, James AVISE of Marshalltown; stepbrothers, Richard AVISE of Rockwell, Alan AVISE of Grants Pass, Ore,. and Don AVISE of Newton; 12 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four children: Paul, Brian, Penelope and Randall.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Rockwell Band Boosters or a charity of donor's choice.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2012