Rick Smith

Larry Richard "Rick" Smith
Rick Smith passed away suddenly on September 29, 2024, at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Tullahoma, Tennessee surrounded by family after a brief illness at the age of 67.
Rick was preceded in death by his mother, Sarah Evelyn Hittson of Normandy, TN; Mother-in-law, Leona Long of Tullahoma; brother, Johnny Smith of Manchester, TN; grandparents, John Allen and Audra McNeese of Normandy, TN; Uncles, David McNeese of Normandy, TN, Curtis McNeese of Hillsboro, TN; aunts, Bernice Hiland of Portland, TN and Gwen McNeese of Tullahoma, TN, and nephew, Steven Smith of Wartrace, TN.
Rick is survived by his loving wife, Ina Kay Smith, of 46 years, who loved and cared for him to the very end; his son, Joe Couch of Lexington, Kentucky; siblings, Billy (Daphne)Smith of Shelbyville, TN; Debbie (Ethan) Hunt of Normandy, TN and Christy (Lee) Martin of Lewisburg, TN; aunt, Ida(James)Gordon of Wartrace, TN, Ann McNeese of Hillsboro, TN; uncle, Mick(Brenda)McNeese of Tullahoma, several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and many cousins.
Rick was a family man, he loved his immediate family and cared for his mother while in the nursing home until her passing. Rick was close with his in-laws especially Andy and Randy Long (bubbas); Louise and Ronnie Ferrell and nephew Chris Ferrell all of Tullahoma.
He worked for 33 years for Tullahoma Utility Board as a lineman, after leaving TUB, he worked for five years as a lineman at Service Electric out of Chattanooga, TN. During his employment, he would always volunteer for catastrophe duty and was always ready to go with his lineman crew to clean up and restore power to those in need.
Rick was an outdoorsman and in his younger days you could find him at the lake jumping off a bridge, skiing, fishing or spending time with his family and friends. If it was snowing, he would gather the kids to go sledding or in a field doing donuts in his truck. He loved fast cars, especially his Pontiac LeMans.
He was an avid fisherman, and he loved teaching all his nephews how to fish. For anyone that was honored to go on a fishing trip with him, somehow, Rick always won the bet of who caught the biggest fish and who caught the most fish for the day.
There will be a Celebration of Life at the First Assembly of God in Tullahoma, where Rick was a member, led by Pastor Ron Forrester on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 2:00, with visitation beginning at 12:00.