Richard Francis Smith

November 17, 1932 – May 3, 2025

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Richard Francis Smith, 92, of Carson City, NV, passed away peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 3, 2025.  He was born November 17, 1932, in the small town of Ilasco, MO.

Richard was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, of 60 years, Helen Smith (married July 1, 1950) and his parents, Cleo Halbert Smith and Francis Lorraine Whitmire, his son-in-law, Eric Johnson and his great-grandson, William Smith.  He is the father of 4 adult children, Ron Smith (Sonja), Debra Smith, Gary Smith (Martha) and Marlene Johnson.

He is the grandfather of 10 grandchildren, Vernon Smith (Lydia), Valerie Smith, Rhonda Smith, David Rousselle, Dan Rousselle (Sarah), Darin Rousselle (Myshel), Stephen Meroney, Michael Callaway, Daniel Johnson (Thalia), and Matthew Johnson (Christy).

He is the great grandfather of 15 great grandchildren, Chandler Smith, James Smith, Emma Smith, Kayla Smith, William Smith, Lily Smith, Silas Rousselle, Eden Rousselle, Pete Rousselle, Izaiah Rousselle, Aylsa Stormo (Ben), Kyrie Wencel, Kenny Rousselle, Ardis Rousselle and Melody Johnson.

Richard loved fast cars and spent many hours working on them with his friends.  He also loved to work on cars with his son, Gary, when he was in high school.  Richard had a private pilot’s license and has so many stories about trips he made across the US, Mexico and the Bahamas.  He also loved to hunt in his younger years and water ski.  He was quite the thrill seeker, you could say!

Richard was a Machinist for 72 years. He advanced from Apprentice to Journeyman in July of 1955. In 1962, he began a successful machine shop with his business partner.   He made so many parts for big companies like Lytton and Varian in San Carlos, CA.  One of the parts remembered were the tube housings for night vision goggles.  He remained in that partnership until June 1981 when the family moved to Arizona. It was in Arizona where he began with his two sons to manufacture Receivers for the M-14NM Rifle. He was the first to ever manufacture this Receiver from solid bar stock instead of a casting.  These Receivers are still recognized as superior craftsmanship by many in the United States and abroad.  He and his sons continued to manufacture other replacement parts for the military and private citizens.

Richard remained a machinist until he was 89 years of age when he moved back to Arizona with his daughter, Marlene, where he passed away.

The most important part of Richard’s life was his love of Jesus.  In the 1970s, he devoted a lot of time calling on families in the community of Redwood City, California, encouraging them to attend church.  He also served on church boards at the Church of the Nazarene and served as the Sunday School Superintendent for a time.  He enjoyed teaching Adult Sunday School classes.  His second love was teaching and he often spoke about how, at one time, he contemplated becoming a math teacher.  He was an excellent teacher and was very much appreciated by those who attended his Sunday School classes.  He always spent so much time on the lessons which included slides and graphics, such as maps of Israel and other tools to assist in making the lesson more than just a reading.  When he spoke about God, Jesus and the Bible, it was definitely a learning experience on top of the worship of God and applying the Word to their lives.

Richard’s last year of life was spent confined to a bed, unable to walk.  However, he always used every opportunity to talk about Jesus to anyone he spoke with at the assisted living home where he stayed. Multiple nurses and other caregivers spoke repeatedly about how he spoke of God and Jesus to them and he prayed for and encouraged them.  He had such a wonderful spirit about him during this last year of his life.  He passed away so loved and so peacefully, with multiple visits from his loved ones and friends.  A beautiful transition into Heaven.

To God be all the glory for him and his witness to the end of his earthly life.  We love you so much and we miss you but we will always remember your laugh, your crazy sarcastic and sometimes hard to read sense of humor, your generous heart and your love for Jesus.

“I have only one reason to be alive; to do the will of God. To do His will in the finest detail.” – RFS Jan 26, 1986, a personal note from his Bible.