Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Richard Smallwood Obituary
RICHARD SMALLWOOD
LIMA — Richard A. Smallwood, age 79, son of John & Orva (Cannon) Smallwood, (born April 2, 1936) passed peacefully at his Lima home on Aug. 22, 2015 after a well fought battle with cancer.
Dick was a lifelong Lima/Wapakoneta resident and community leader. He was a well known Lima barber for 59 years, predominately on Market Street across from St. Rita's hospital, where he was a philanthropist and supporter. He also co-owned and operated the Smallwood Pine Tree Farm in Wapakoneta, along with his brother, Bill, for decades during the holiday seasons.
Civic accomplishments from the 1960s to present include: Treasurer of Teddy Bear Fund with Easter Straker, following his then young son Dale's hospitalization; Indian Guides Chief of Nations, Lima's founder of Indian Princesses; Lima Senior High School 1975 PTA President; committee chair of the American Cancer Society's Bike-A-Thon; active member and Host of Lima's Sister City exchange with Harima-cho, Japan; committee chair of the Lima Stadium Renovation project, Press-box manager and a longtime supporter of the Lima Spartans. Dick was most proud to receive the Service to Mankind Award from the Lima Noon Sertoma Club in 2011.
Dick had a passion for traveling the world and experiencing new cultures with his wife and friends on dozens of trips spanning 60 years. Amazingly, Antarctica was the only continent not yet visited, with Egypt being his favorite trip and dream since childhood.
Dick most enjoyed gatherings with family and friends; plowing his garden and fields with his 1957 Massey-Ferguson tractor; and entertaining Head Start children at the Tree Farm with hot chocolate and "surprise" visits from Mrs. Santa Claus (aka his mother, Orva).
Dick is survived by his beloved wife, Mary; brother, William (Darlene) of Wapakoneta; son, Dale (Lynne) of Dublin, OH and daughter, Dawn, grandchildren Scott and Susan; and many close nephews and nieces that gathered for Dick's Annual Family & Friends Holiday Talent Show!
A Celebration of Life visitation will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 1-5 pm at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Shawnee Chapel, 1170 Shawnee Rd. to be followed by a private family service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Humane Society of Allen County, where the Smallwood family adopted many of their beloved pets.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Smallwood
Dawn Smallwood
September 4, 2015
Miss you and love you, Dad! Thanks for all of the fun memories, encouragement, support and understanding. You'll be in my heart forever.
Janet Houghton
September 1, 2015
Mary;
Please accept my heartfelt condolences for our loss. I knew him for just a short period of time, but I have very fond memories of you both! I will keep you in my prayers! Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Jon & Debbie Butler
August 31, 2015
Dale, Dawn, Mary
I'm very sad to learn of your Dad and husband's passing.
What a great role model for us! Always upbeat, always active. I have fond memories of the Spring St shop, scout camp and hanging around the house. He touched a lot of us. Please accept our deepest sympathies.
August 28, 2015
Remembering all of you and Dick with caring thoughts.
Peggy Davis Cole, Class of 54
Kay Arnold
August 26, 2015
Mary, Dawn, Dale and Lynn - Mom just called and told us about Dick. We are so sorry to hear this and our hearts are heavy with this news. We loved him and we love you all. If there's anything we can do for you, please let us know. May God's comfort and peace that passes all our understanding be with you. He was a great guy. I always smile when I think of Dick. ~Mike, Kay, Johnathan and David Arnold
Adam Secession
August 26, 2015
Mary, I am saddened to hear of your loss. Meeting and having you and Richard as one of my favorite customers at Bob evans was a most enjoyable time for me. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Adam Secession
Michelle Chiles
August 25, 2015
I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. My thoughts are with you.
Michelle Chiles (Larry's daughter)
Jan Kentner
August 25, 2015
Uncle Dick and Aunt Mary, you may not remember me however you and your family have left everlasting memories in my life. I am proud to say I helped plant many of those trees while messing around on my many weekends at the Smallwood Tree Farm. Whether it be in the loft of the barn, riding four wheelers, the haunted woods or actually doing what we were supposed to be doing. My deepest sympathy to all of your family.
John Ellis
August 25, 2015
I have known Dick since 1965 and I never have had a barber like since.He was always up beat about Lima And high school sports.
I'm a better person by knowing him.When I think of Lima I think of him.God BLess him!
Kim Alberts
August 25, 2015
Mary, I am so sorry for your loss....I remember when you let Changing Seasons came out had picnics out to Farm with Pam Bricker..Your place was very beautiful and I am so thankful and blessed of times we shared and the Model T...He will deeply missed...
August 25, 2015
Dear Mary and family
My thoughts are with you at this sad time.
Becky Lament Smith, a Blume HS friend
Marcia Howe Woods
August 25, 2015
Mary, Dick was a classmate of mine in Wapak. I met you once at your farm when we had a reunion. My Mother shared with me his many kindnesses to ill clients. My thoughts and prayers for you and the family
Eric O'Connell
August 25, 2015
Dale and family, know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless and keep all of you in this difficult time
J ohn Daley
August 25, 2015
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Karel Oxley
August 25, 2015
My heartfelt sympathy to the family of a GREAT and giving man!! Thank you to Dick for his many years of contributions and service to the many stadium projects of Lima City Schools and the Lima community!! Your efforts will be forever remembered. You will be VERY missed!! So sorry that I can't be there in person to share my sympathy...please know my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Ryan Zerkel
August 25, 2015
Dear Smallwood family, Sorry for your loss. Dick was a great mentor to me, and great medicine for my dad through his illness. I have many fond memories of Dick and am thankful that I was able to know him. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
mike stephany
August 24, 2015
I lived in lima from 1967-72 and became a steady customer of smallwood's. it was my first job teaching at lcc and loved going to the barber shop saturday mornings to catch up on all the news! wonderful man- condolences on your loss
Brian Tate
August 24, 2015
Dick cut my hair for many years...a true gentleman and good friend he was..... I'm glad I got to know him, so sorry for your loss. He was the true definition of an American barber.
Richard Hover
August 24, 2015
Dawn, I am so very sorry to hear this news. Your father was such a treasure to Lima. Imagine how our world could be if there were more people like him. I pray that God will comfort you and your family and bring you peace.
Tammy (Singleton) Danner
August 24, 2015
Dear Mary Dale Dawn and family. So very sorry for your loss. May the Lord wrap you in HIS loving arms, hug you hold you and comfort you. You are in our prayers.
Tammy (Singleton)& Ed Danner
Cody's first haircut
Chad Bryan
August 24, 2015
Three generations of customers will greatly miss Dick. He wasn't just a barber, he was family.
Steve Schindler
August 24, 2015
Dale, so sorry for your loss. Your dad was a great man. I too received a "teddy bear" as a young child and kept it for years. God Bless
Steve Schindler
Sue Like
August 24, 2015
So sorry for your great loss.My husband was a very long time customer and friend from the time Dick started on Market Street and after we left Lima he would still come back to Dick for a 'good haircut ' and conversation.He will be deeply missed by the whole Lima community and beyond.
August 23, 2015
Dear Mary and family, My deepest sympathy in the loss of your beloved husband and father. Dick was the shining light in our Blume High School Class. He was always so upbeat and cheerful. I'm sure he must have been a very successful barber - having so many stories to tell. He always led our high school reunions, and we looked forward to seeing him every 5 years. It won't be the same without him. Cindy Brookhart Michel , Class of 1954
Karen Maxson
August 23, 2015
Dick was a classmate and extra good friend from way back. He was also in my husband Jerre Maxson's scout troop #14 (Neil Armstrongs troop too). My best to all his family. I am sooooooooooo sorry.He will be sorely missed by so many.
Drew Lobdell
August 23, 2015
Dick was my 1st barber(45years ago). I was 5 years old. I enjoyed going there because I liked sitting in the Shoe Shine chairs in the back of the shop. Also,sneaking upstairs to play pool.
I remember Dick always engaged me in conversation while sitting in the chair, How was Indian Guides? Did I like school? He took an interest in me.
He will be missed.
Michael and Theresa Schaub
August 23, 2015
Teri and I offer our deepest condolences to all family members, especiall to his wife, Mary and his brother and his wife, Bill and Darlene, who were our neighbors for 25 years. His passing will leave a void that will be difficult to fill.
Pat Pendleton (Botkin)
August 23, 2015
Even though I had not seen Uncle Dick for some time, I have fond memories of childhood visits and going to Lake St. Marys with my Mom and Dad (Don Botkin & Helga Botkin). Heartfelt sympathy to Mary, Dale and all the family.
William Green
August 23, 2015
What can I say about Dick Smallwood? I don't remember life without Dick. He gave me my first haircut at age 2. And pretty much every haircut until I left for the Marine Corps. One of our favorite stories to rehash through the years was the time I sat down in his chair and told him I wanted a spike. I was about 7 at the time and up until that point my dad dictated what haircut I got. So, I tell Dick, I want a spike. My dad gives it the ok and Dick gives me the spike. We get home and my mom had been out shopping, so she comes in the door and sees her little boy standing there with his hair spiked up in the hair and drops her groceries out of pure shock. The next month when it was haircut time, we tell this to Dick and he thought it was the funniest thing he had ever heard! We must have rehashed that story 100 times through the years! Dick was more than a barber, he was part of the family. My heart goes out to his family. The world has lost a great man.
Pam Rodriguez Cochran
August 23, 2015
Mary and family, please accept my deepest condolences. I only met Dick a few times, but he was the type of person to make a positive impact in a short period of time. My prayers for peace are with you.
Barry Cox
August 23, 2015
My condolences, especially to Dale, whom I remember fondly from high school days. Dick Smallwood's barbershop was an institution in Lima. He will be missed by many.
Marcia (Thiesing) Redlaczyk
August 23, 2015
Dick was my dad's (Ron Thiesing) barber since 1960. They became friends over the years & were in Indian Guides together with their sons. My dad even took his great-grandson in for a haircut, over on Spencerville Road a few years ago. Dad always thought highly of Dick and said "He was a man, among men". I'm so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful person he was! <3
Ralph(Randy) & Judy Richardson
August 23, 2015
Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever
August 23, 2015
Uncle Dick will be missed by many but they will all have wonderful memories to get them thru each day. He was a gentle giant.
Bob & Margaret McNaughton
(related to Bob & Beda Sielschott)
August 23, 2015
My deepest condolensces for your loss, Dick was a great guy. Pam - Lima Sr Athletics (formerly)
Elizabeth and William Lynch
August 23, 2015
Mary, Sorry for your loss. Dick was Bill's barber and loved swapping stories with him. We also enjoyed Senior trips with Dick and Neil, they were quite a comedy team. We will continue to remember you and your family in our prayers as you miss him.
August 23, 2015
Remembering our Sunday school class at St. Mark's UMC and many summer afternoons at Silver Springs with Mary and "kids". Condolences and prayers for you all! Fond memories! Love from Tom & Sue Sevitz. Dublin, OH
Michael Miller
August 23, 2015
I met Mr. Smallwood through Sister Cities and found him to be a very giving person with a fantastic sense of humor. You have my condolences.
Lynne Dunlap
August 22, 2015
Mary, So sorry for your loss. Prayers being lifted up on your behalf.
Showing 1 - 40 of 40 results
Make a Donation
in Richard Smallwood's name
Memorial Events
for Richard Smallwood
Funeral services provided by:
Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services - Shawnee1170 Shawnee Rd, Lima, OH 45805
How to support Richard's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Richard Smallwood's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
