ORONO – Richard Leathers Smith, 77, born June 11, 1928, in Bangor, the son of Harold D. and Marion (Leathers) Smith, died peacefully April 8, 2006, at a Bangor hospital. Richard graduated from Bangor High School, Class of 1945. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Richard was stationed in Huntsville, Ala., from 1950-1953 where he met his wife, Margene. He served as an instructor on the Nike Missile Program at Redstone Arsenal. Richard operated a service station in Orono in the late 50’s and then worked in the family business of H.D. Smith and Sons, Inc. in Bangor until he retired in 1992. He was a member of the Orono Town Council for 12 years, serving as chairman from 1976-1977. He was an active member of Columbia Street Baptist Church where he had served as deacon, usher, member of the finance committee and an officer in the Danforth Sunday school class. Richard was in the Orono Kiwanis Club for many years and served as president in 1982. He survived lung cancer in 1981 and had bravely battled lung disease for 25 years. Richard was thankful to be able to live to see his grandchildren and great-grandchild. Richard is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Margene (Wilbanks) Smith of Orono; children, Pamela DePaul and husband, Anthony, of Cranston, R.I., Gary Smith and wife, Renee, of Bangor, Karen Smith of Spring Valley, Calif., Janet Wheeler and husband, Kevin, of El Cajon, Calif., Kimberly McKay and husband, Terrance, of Orono; sisters, Eleanor Farrington and husband, Bernard, of Newnan, Ga., Roberta Scott of Sullivan, Barbara Haskell of Orrington, Gloria Faulkner and husband, John, of Eddington; brothers, Sheldon Smith and wife, Marion, of Navajo Dam, N.M., Vaughn Smith and wife, Judy, of Bangor; grandchildren, Emily, Jenna and Laura DePaul, Jesse Smith and wife, Mandie, Courtney Smith, Heather, Terra, Jacob and Jared McKay; a great-granddaughter, Madison Smith; and several nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to visit with the family 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 10, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, with the Rev. Peter Sprague, pastor of Columbia Street Baptist Church officiating and with the Rev. Ken Partridge and the Rev. Dr. Foster Williams participating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Orono. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor, after the interment. Gifts in his memory may be made to the Columbia Street Baptist Church, organ fund, 63 Columbia St., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com
RICHARD ‘DICK’ L. SMITH
