Richard A. Smith

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Richard A. Smith Sr.

East Kingston – Richard A. Smith, Sr., 90, died September 3, 2010 at Exeter Hospital after a period of declining health.

Mr. Smith was born on November 21, 1919 in Wakefield, MA, a son of the late Frank Q. and Elizabeth (Rennie) Smith.

Mr. Smith was raised in Wakefield, MA. He graduated from Wakefield High School and then from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMASS Amherst. He moved to East Kingston in 1940 after purchasing the Smith Farm. Richard married his childhood sweetheart, Eva (Sampson) Smith in 1946 and the couple settled on the farm in East Kingston to raise their family. He was a founding member of the East Kingston Volunteer Fire Association and was an integral part in the construction of the firehouse. He was a volunteer firefighter and left the department as Deputy Chief. Richard served as the Town Fire Warden for many years, chairman of the planning board for 35 years, a devoted member and trustee of the East Kingston Community Methodist Church, past master of the Wingold Grange and a member of the State Farm Bureau. He received the New Hampshire Municipal Association Volunteer of the Year Award in 2001 for his many contributions to the East Kingston Community.

Above all else, Richard loved his family and particularly enjoyed the many visits to his daughter’s island in Pine River Pond in Wakefield, NH. His interests included boating and fishing. His greatest passion was his farm. He began as a dairy farmer and after 46 years shifted to raising hay and vegetables. He loved working his gardens. In 2007 working with the town a conservation easement was procured which will protect his beloved farm in perpetuity.

Survivors include Eva, his loving wife of 64 years, his sons, Richard Smith Jr. of East Kingston, Herbert Smith and his wife Marian of Exeter and Ronald Smith of East Kingston, his daughter, Jan Smith of East Kingston, his grandsons, Jeremy Smith of Exeter and Christopher Smith of Denver, CO, and his great granddaughter Jenna Marie Smith.

He was predeceased by his brothers, Arthur and Francis Smith and his sister, Elizabeth Green.

There will be no visiting hours. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at 2 P.M. Sunday, September 12, 2010 in the East Kingston Methodist Church, 34 Depot Rd., East Kingston. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richard’s name to the East Kingston Methodist Church, 34 Depot Rd., East Kingston, 03827 or to the East Kingston Volunteer Fire Association, PO Box 171, East Kingston, NH 03827.

Stockbridge Funeral Home invites you to post your entries of love and support for the family. All postings are monitored and any inappropriate posts will be immediately deleted. Thanks in advance for your respect for the family.

Service -

Sunday, September 12, 2010

2:00 pm

East Kingston Methodist Church

34 Depot Road

East Kingston, New Hampshire

Directions to Service

Interment -

Burial will be private.