Richard Park Smith, age 91, of Quincy, departed this life Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 10:40 a.m. at Mary Rutan Hospital, Bellefontaine.
He was born at Pemberton, Ohio, on December 2, 1929, the son of the late Donald Watson Smith and Opal Duer (Staley) Smith. He married Leota Anna Haines on October 10, 1953, and she preceded him in death on December 27, 2015. He was also preceded in death by his brothers Chester Lee Smith and Jack Staley Smith and sisters Betty Evelyn Davis and Donna Jean Chipman.
He was a proud Veteran of the United States Air Force, during the Korean War, stationed at Ashiya Air Force Base in Japan as a hydraulic mechanic. He enjoyed a career as a self-employed excavator and eventually retired from the Village of Quincy as Superintendent of Utilities in 1997. During this time he was the Quincy Village Clerk and Zoning Officer and also a Commissioner of Logan County Metropolitan Housing and a member of the Logan, Union, and Champaign County Regional Planning Commission.
In addition to training and racing Quarter Horses for over 10 years he was instrumental in establishing the Ohio Quarter Horse Racing Association. He also built the Quincy Air Port where he flew his own Piper Tri Pacer. One of his last enjoyments was to coach youth baseball and soccer.
Richard is survived by his daughter Debra Geuy and husband Steve of Rosewood, and two grandchildren, Adam and Leah Geuy.
Services will be at the Quincy United Methodist Church on October 30, at 11 a.m. preceded by a calling time at 10 a.m. Following the church service, there will be a full military service at the Fairview Cemetery provided by the Shelby County Veterans and the United States Air Force.
Adams Funeral Home, 1401 Fair Road, Sidney, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. Online memories may be made at www.theadamsfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Quincy United Methodist Church in Richard’s memory.