Richard Preston Smith, Sr.

Richard Preston Smith, Sr., 84, passed away on Friday, June 6, 2014.

Richard was born in Andalusia, Alabama on August 9, 1929. He was employed at Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, Alabama until the base closure, and transferred to McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California. Richard moved to Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia in 1971 where he retired from Avionics in 1993. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1954. While stationed at Misawa Air Base, Japan, he sang in a quartet with T.W. Hunt, Chaplain Asst., and Sgts. Murray and Hoft.

Before leaving his hometown, he sang in Gospel quartets, usually with his Dad and siblings and on the local radio station on Sunday mornings.

Richard was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church in Warner Robins and sang with the choir for many years. He also taught Sunday School at Elberta Healthcare for over twenty years. In his free time, Richard enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and the outdoors.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Buren and Rose Esther Moody Smith, of Andalusia, Alabama; his wife and mother of their three children, Cora Lee Dorsey Smith; brother, William Buren Smith, Jr. of Andalusia, Alabama; two sisters and three brothers-in-law, Margie Smith Franklin (Carl) all of Andalusia, Alabama, Edna Smith Howell of Mobile, Alabama and Howard Huggins of Opp, Alabama; and infant grandson, Hayden Norman Taylor.

Richard's memory will forever be treasured by his wife of twenty-four years, Helen Smith of Centerville, Georgia; children, Rick Smith, Jr. (Colette) of Lynn Haven, Florida, Gwen Wilson (John) of Macon, Georgia, and Angie Taylor (Hank) of Apex, North Carolina; eight grandchildren, Josey and Tyler Hunt of Athens, Georgia, Halley Rose Wilson of Macon, Georgia, Apryl Ashley (Noel) of Altamonte Springs, Florida, Dr. Sara Jordan of Blacksburg, Virginia, Tina Bassett (Brian) of Panama City, Florida, Presley and Henry Dalton Taylor of Apex, North Carolina; five great-grandchildren; sister, Bonnie Huggins of Opp, Alabama; sister-in-law, Ruby Parr Smith of Andalusia, Alabama; and a host of loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, June 8, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2014 in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. Entombment with Military Honors will follow in Magnolia Park Mausoleum. Dr. Johnny Ellison will officiate.

The family will accept flowers, or memorial donations may be made to Green Acres Baptist Church Building Fund, 901 Elberta Road, Warner Robins, GA 31093.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088