Richard Joseph "Joe" Smith

BOARDMAN - Richard Joseph Smith, 72, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning, July 9, 2017, at the Cleveland Clinic.

Richard, who was known to all as “Joe,” was born Sept. 30, 1944, in Youngstown, a son of the late Cecil R. and Margaret Elizabeth Dorner Smith, and was a lifelong area resident.

Mr. Smith attended The Rayen School, and earned a GED while in the military. Joe proudly served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper and combat medic, from 1962 until 1965, where he was with the 11th Air Assault and participated in the newly-formed Helicopter Air Combat program. Today, those troops are known as “Sky Soldiers” throughout the Army.

Joe retired from Teamsters Local No. 377 and Local No 261.
 
His beloved wife of almost 41 years, Kaye M. Williams Smith, whom he married May 28, 1966, passed away March 6, 2007. Joe had always said that he hoped the good Lord would allow him into Heaven, and that the first angel he’d see would be his beautiful wife, Kaye Marie.

Joe leaves his son, Randy (Kim) Smith, and his granddaughters, Sarah E. Smith and Hannah A. Smith, all of Hudson; a brother, Edward J. Smith of Mineral Ridge; a sister, Diana (Gary) Barnes of Mineral Ridge; a sister-in-law, Carole Smith of Youngstown; brother-in-law, Richard Alexander of Bradenton, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife, three brothers, Everett “Red” Smith, William G. Smith, and Minor T. Smith, and a sister, Margaret E. Alexander, are deceased.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a graveside service with military honors to be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 15, at Tod Homestead Cemetery on Belmont Avenue in Youngstown.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 N. Meridian Rd., Youngstown.

Joe asked that material contributions be made in his name to Sojourner House Domestic Violence Shelter, in care of Compass Family & Community Services, 535 Marmion Ave., Youngstown, OH 44502.