Richard Don Smith

Richard Don Smith, age 91, passed away on Sunday, August 5, 2018, in Springdale. He was born on August 21, 1926, in West Fork, Arkansas, to Murat and Ryno (Thrasher) Smith. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Mary A. Smith; his sister, Virginia Crouch; and his brother, Roger Smith. Richard was born and raised and lived his whole life in West Fork, Arkansas. He graduated from West Fork High School. He went on to join the U.S. Navy and served in WWII. After the military, he went to work for his father at the family owned West Fork Mercantile. He also worked as a mail carrier for the West Fork postal service. He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Buehner and husband Lon of Rapid City, South Dakota; his brothers, Gordon Smith and Frank Smith; his two grandchildren, Chad Buehner and wife Stephanie and Shannon Tillack and husband Austin; his four great-grandchildren, Garrett, Allison, and Cameron Buehner, and Connor Tillack; numerous nieces and nephews including a special niece, Judy Cotton and husband Doug. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 9, 2018, at West Fork Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the West Fork Cemetery with checks made out to West Fork Cemetery and mailed to P.O. Box 396, West Fork, Ark. 72774 or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at https://www2.jdrf.org/. To place an online tribute, visit www.nelsonberna.com.