Obituary of Richard Keith Smith

Smith, Richard K.

Bay City, MI

Passed away on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at Toni and Trish House after struggling with dementia.  He was 90 years old.  Dick was born in Flint, MI on April 22, 1933 to the late J. Oliver Smith and Olive Bradley Smith. 

After graduating from Mt. Morris High School, Dick joined the National Guard, but subsequently was drafted into the Army.  He was in basic training when the Korean War ended and served at VII Corps Artillery Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany as a draftsman.  Upon his return, he resumed his electrician apprenticeship at Buick Motor in Flint.  Then he switched gears and entered the insurance business, first in life insurance then progressing to property casualty.  He and late business partner Fred Snider formed the Heritage Agency, Inc. in Saginaw in 1968.  After seven years with national broker Penn General Agencies, Inc., Heritage Agency was reestablished in 1980 and he continued his career until selling the agency and fully retiring in 1994. 

On May 19, 1979, he married Susan L. Longworth and they enjoyed 44 blessed years of marriage.  Together they enjoyed sailing the Great Lakes and Virgin Islands, golfing anywhere, remodeling or building houses and road trips to see America while visiting children and grandchildren in the west.  In 1993, Dick and Sue left Michigan for the Sunshine State and resided in Homosassa, FL until 2010 when they returned to be nearer family in MI.  Dick was an excellent artist at heart and fully enjoyed carving birds and caricatures of golfers and friends.  He dabbled in painting, primarily boats of all kinds, lakes and rivers. 

Dick’s legacy continues in his three surviving children, Lee Ann Wilson (Jeffrey) of Reno, Nevada, Kelly J. Smith, Alnmouth, England and Timothy J. Smith (Anne) of Bay City and Somerset, KY.  He is also survived by grandchildren Kathleen Wilson (Matt Gladding) of Phoenix, AZ and Andrew Wilson (Meghan) of Sparks, NV and their children Henley, Finn and Luna; step grandchildren, Stacey Felker of Saginaw, Kyle Felker (Haley) of New Franklin, OH, and Tracy Garcia (Gil) of Reno, NV.  He is also survived by Sister-in-Law and Brother-in-Law, Janet L. and Herman Barber of Bay City. 

Dick was active in the Boy Scouts when his children were young and enjoyed memberships in the Saginaw Bay Yacht Club, A-Ga-Ming Golf Course, Sugarmill Country Club in Homosassa and Bay Valley Golf Club.  He was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Bay City.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two children, Bradley Smith and Mary Smith, each of his six siblings, step grandson Aaron Wilson, and his first wife and mother of his children, Dorothy P. Smith. 

SERVICE DATE CHANGE: Celebration of Life will take place on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 501 S. Catherine St., Bay City at 11:00 am, receiving friends at 10:00 am.  Pastor Dan Stoneback will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Toni and Trish House, 4699 Eleven Mile Rd., Auburn, MI 48611 whose staff was invaluable in the loving care provided Dick and his family in his final hours.  Special thanks also go to Kristin, Nancy, Shawn and Nicole from Americans Hospice Care.  

To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements by Cremation Society of Mid-Michigan.