Richard G. "Dick" Smith Jr., 81, of Tucson, AZ, passed away on March 17, 2024.
A rosary will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 7, at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Marysville. A funeral mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. Father Quentin Schmitz will officiate. The musicians will be Rosemary Forst and Michael Welch. Music will include "Here I Am Lord", "The Lord is My Shepherd", "Alleluia", "On Eagle's Wings", "Mass of Christ the Savior", "Bread of Angels" and "Let There Be Peace on Earth."
Burial will be held in St. Gregory's Catholic Cemetery.
Dick was born on July 14, 1942, to Richard G. and Mary Louise (Lowell) Smith Sr. in St. Louis, MO. He attended Bishop Dubourg High School in St. Louis and St. Cecilia's High School in Omaha, NE. In 1965, he graduated from the University of Nebraska, Omaha with a degree in journalism.
Dick was united in marriage to JoAnn Bishop in 1965. Together, they resided in Tucson after retiring from his 45 year career as a national network photojournalist with NBC network. During his eventful career, Dick won several local, state, national and international awards for his work.
He was an avid military and civil aviation modeler. His in-depth research and skill in model making brought him many local and national awards. Dick also contributed numerous articles in several aviation history publications.
As a family man, Dick was a loving and attentive husband and father to his family. He was also an avid dog lover and "dog father" to his lab, Ginger, and to his daughter's many canines.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, William Smith; and brother-in-law, Charles Wilkinson.
Survivors include his beloved wife JoAnn, Tucson; daughter, Michelle (Steven) Taylor, Corpus Christi, TX; son, Richard (Agnes Herget) Smith III, Chicago, IL; brother, Dr. Robert J. (Karen) Smith, Manhattan, KS; and sister, Judith Wilkinson, Barnes, KS.
A memorial fund has been established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary.
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