Donald Richard Smith

Mr. Smith died Sunday, March 24, 2002, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka.

He was born Jan. 10, 1929, in Ottawa, the son of Herman and Kate (Hases) Smith. He grew up and attended schools in Ottawa.

He was employed by the Ross Milling Company in Ottawa from 1945 to 1947. He entered the U.S. Army-Air Force on Jan. 20, 1947, at Fort Riley.

He served for more than seven years in the 99th Reconnaissance Tech Squadron. He received a Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and a National Defense Service Medal.

Mr. Smith was a self-employed carpet-layer until 1991. He lived in Eudora and Baldwin until 1994, when he moved to La Feria, Tex. He moved to Waverly in 1999.

He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5901 in Ottawa.

He married Jerry Stevenson on March 2, 1970, in Lawrence. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include three daughters, Penny Lynn Houchin, Ottawa, Gwen Brecheisen, Ottawa, and Jackie Hargett, Eudora; two sons, Lester Coulter, Le Loup, and Larry Bishop, Ottawa; one brother, Bernard, Williamsburg; one sister, Hazel Daniel, Porter, Tex.; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Two grandchildren, Ronald David Rentz and Denver Coulter, died earlier.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

The family suggests memorials to the V.F.W. Post No. 5901, sent in care of the Lamb-Roberts-Heise Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa 66067.