Richard Duane Smith, 96, of Newcomerstown, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at the Inn at Northwood Village in Dover.
Duane was born February 19, 1929 in Newcomerstown to the late Forest and Virginia (Bowers) Smith. He was a 1947 graduate of Newcomerstown High School. He then went on to Muskingum to receive his bachelor’s degree and Ohio University to receive his master’s in education. Duane was a United States Army Veteran, serving from 1950 to 1952. He started his career with the Ohio Power Company then went on to teach at Fresno schools, and he finished his career at Newcomerstown Schools as the Elementary School Supervisor. Duane was an avid sportsman, hunter, fisherman, and especially loved trapshooting. In 1971, he won the ATA World Clay Target Championship. Duane was a charter member of the Fresno Gun Club, the Newcomerstown Trap Club, and is in the Ohio State Trapshooting Hall of Fame. Upon retirement, he enjoyed traveling bus tours with his wife. He loved following the grandkids’ and great-grandkids’ baseball games. Duane was a member of the Christ Methodist Church of Newcomerstown. He was also a member of the Newcomerstown Rotary and the Masonic Lonestar Lodge #175 Newcomerstown. On July 26, 1952, he married Alice Lee Smith, who passed away in September 2023.
Duane in survived by his sons, Richard Forest (Angela) Smith of Orrville and Ronald Lee (Terri) Smith of Dover; grandchildren, Joshua Lee (Casey), Jason Richard (Holly), Hunter Lee Smith, Nicole Elizabeth (Vaughn) Sears; great-grandchildren, Finn, Sawyer, Baylor, and Briar Smith, Tanner and Atlee Rose Sears; his sister, Linda Booth; niece, Brenda Casteel. In addition to his parents and his wife Alice, he was preceded in death by his nephew, David Booth.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday July 28, 2025 at 12 pm at the Addy Funeral Home with Bracken Foster officiating. Visitation will take place on Monday July 28th from 10 to 12 prior to the funeral service. Duane will be laid to rest in West Lawn Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Christ Methodist Church 648 Oak St, Newcomerstown, OH 43832 or the Newcomerstown Trap Club at P.O. Box 524 Newcomerstown, OH 43832.
Online condolences can be made at www.addyfuneralhome.com
Addy Funeral Home
406 West State Street
Newcomerstown, OH 43832
740-498-8111
www.addyfuneralhome.com
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