Richard P. Smith

Richard (Dick) P. Smith Union City Richard (Dick) P. Smith, 92, passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at The Laurels of Coldwater. Dick was born September 24, 1916 in Burlington to the late Paul & Carrie (Freed) Smith. He was a 1935 graduate of Union City High School. On May 5, 1936, Dick married his high school sweetheart, Mirth Roe, in Angola, Indiana. Always a hard worker, he started married life working at the local A & P grocery while caring for and milking several cows. All this while starting a family destined to include 3 sons and 3 daughters. Dairy farming became his passion and in 1960 Dick was named Michigan Dairy Farmer of the Year. He later worked at the local trailer factory. Friends, family and neighbors all knew Dick was the man to go to if you needed anything fixed. Dick served on the Union City School Board for several years, overseeing the consolidation of the "one-room country schools" into the new elementary building. Just out of high school, he played drums for local barn dances, often with sister Hazel on the piano. Saturday nights you'd find Dick & Mirth at the local dances. Polkas were a favorite. Another love was the Model A and the Antique Auto Club. Dick also loved card games, talking politics, and oh those Tigers! Mirth preceded him in death August 26, 1997. Also preceding him in death was great-grandson Ryan McLatcher, brothers; Elmer, Leon, Merlin and sisters; Dorothy Bennett, Hazel Eitinear and Pauline Lower. Dick is survived by his children; Gail (Jack) Snyder of Merritt Island, FL, Janet (Lowell) Knapp of Coldwater, Tom (Jeri) Smith of Union City, Linda (Gary) Smith of Union City, Lynn (Marcia) Smith of Merritt Island, FL, Keith Smith of Union City, 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Sunday, June 28, 2009 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Putnam Funeral Home in Union City. Services will be held on June 29, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with one hour of visitation prior to the service at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Union City with Rev. David Pierce officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Union City. Memorial contributions may be made to CHC Hospice. You may leave an online tribute by visiting www.putnamfuneralhome.com Arrangements are by the Putnam Funeral Home 517 741-9333, Union City, MI.