Richard Lee Smith

Richard Lee Smith, age 77, of Aurora, Illinois died on Wednesday, December 23, 2015. Dick was born in Quincy, Illinois on January 4, 1938 to Harold E. and Lois Smith of Carbon, Iowa. Both are deceased. Dick is survived by his wife of 56 years Judy (Hofner) Smith, their sons Kevin (Debbie) of Melrose Park, Illinois and Keith of Aurora, Illinois; step-granddaughter, Donna Jallits of Bethpage, New York, grandsons Mark and David Smith both of Aurora, Illinois; two brothers, Harold S. (Constantina) of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Michael (Linda) Smith of Thousand Palms, California, and all of his friends at McDonalds. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Paul A. Smith of Prescott Valley, Arizona in 2006. Dick grew up mostly in Des Moines, Iowa. While he was in school there he danced in a square dance with his classmates at The Iowa State Fair. He also briefly attended school is Carbon, Iowa, then after in Des Moines, Iowa he attended school in Naperville, Illinois. He graduated from East Aurora High School in Aurora, Illinois in 1956. In Naperville he worked for a florist and there he developed his love for flowers. During high school he spent two summers in Cody, Wyoming, the eastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, working as a bell hop. He was paid 15 cents for every bag he carried. After graduating from high school he worked for The United State Post Office for eleven years as a letter carrier. He then went to work for Illinois Bell Telephone, and the subsequent changes of their name, for the next 28 years being promoted to foreman. His last ten years with the phone company he worked in Chicago, Illinois in their computer division. Dick and his wife Judy enjoyed traveling after retirement. He visited 44 states of the USA and 25 National Parks. The couple also visited Mexico, Canada, Europe and took cruises to islands in the Caribbean, South America, through the Panama Canal, and to Alaska and Siberian Russia. Dick enjoyed fishing and the outdoors. His love was photography-especially flowers and nature. He was a long time member of the Fox Valley Camera Club and served six terms as their President. He was also a member of the Sandwich Photographic Society and served two terms as Secretary. He was seen most often with a camera in his hands and a camera bag over his shoulder. He will be heaven’s master photographer. He always had an idea of how to fix things or make them work better. He even took his tool kit on vacations where he would put knobs back on dresser drawers in hotels and fixed the window frame and dresser drawer on a cruise ship. He even adapted some of his photographic equipment to hold parts of the workings for the Proton Beam radiation procedure in Warrenville, Illinois. Funeral services will be Monday, December 28, 2015 beginning at 11:30 AM with prayers at the funeral home to St. Rita of Cascia Church for the funeral mass at 12:00 noon. Burial to follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Aurora. Visitation will be held Sunday, December 27, 2015 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM, with a Liturgical Wake Service at 4:00 PM, at THE DALEIDEN MORTUARY, 220 North Lake Street, Aurora, Illinois 60506. Please visit www.daleidenmortuary to visit Dick’s memorial page and to leave condolences to the family. For additional information friends are invited to contact the funeral home at 630-631-5500.

Richard Lee Smith

January 4, 1938 - December 23, 2015