Civitan Richard "Dick" Smith, 81

Richard Hill “Dick” Smith, Jr, 81, of Salisbury, passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury. Born June 1, 1934, in Salisbury, to the late Mary Hinceman and Richard Hill Smith, Dick was a graduate of Boyden High School where he was a four year starter on the Football team. His senior year he was All Conference and served as co-captain, played in the East-West All Star game, and represented North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl in Charlotte. After graduation he attended Catawba College where he excelled in football and graduated in 1956.

After graduation Dick went on to a distinguished 32 year career with Southern Bell Telephone Company. He retired in 1987 as the N.C. General Manager for Bell South. Dick was very active in the community especially at Catawba College where he served on the Alumni Board, The Board of Visitors, as well as the Chiefs Board and was co-founder of the Gridiron Club. He was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni and served on a small committee of people that was the driving force for raising funds to renovate the Catawba College Shuford Football Stadium and later raising funds to light the stadium.

In 2002, he was inducted into the Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame. Dick was most proud of the Richard H. and Peggy Smith Endowed Scholarship. Dick was a member of the Civitan Club of Salisbury and was a past president as well as 1998 Rookie of the Year, 1999 Civitan of the Year and served on the Spaghetti Feast fund raiser and awards committee. He served on the Board of Rowan Regional Medical Center and was a member of the Country Club of Salisbury.

Preceding him in death was his daughter, Cristy Leigh Smith. Surviving are his wife, Peggy Russell Smith; daughter, Lyn Smith Ihrig of Greenville, S.C.; step-children: Stan Jordan and wife Sandy of Salisbury, Kim Andrew and husband Mark of Albemarle, Ronda Sparks and husband Mark of Carolina Beach, N.C.; grandchildren, Jamie Smith Baker and husband Jeff of Franklin, N.C., Jordan Richard Ihrig of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Alden Banks Ihrig of Greenville, S.C., Ashley Isabelle Schaefer Vermeer and husband Carl of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and William Bruce Schaefer, IV, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Arrangements: A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, at St. John's Lutheran Church. The family will speak to friends following the service. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Trinity Oaks Lutheran Home, 820 Klumac Rd, Salisbury, NC 28144 or Catawba College, 2300 W. Innes St. Salisbury, NC 28144. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Smith family.

Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/salisburypost/obituary.aspx?pid=179569670#sthash.k9fbQT4j.dpuf