Richard “Dick” Sherwood Smith, 84, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026, at Ball Memorial Hospital after a very short illness.

Dick was born on September 5, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, to Eleanor W and Richard S Smith Jr. He was the eldest of four children and grew up in a family that meant a great deal to him.

Dick dedicated his life to education, serving as a teacher and administrator for many years. He worked for Birmingham Public Schools from September 1, 1966 to June 30, 1996. He retired as an assistant principal from Wylie E. Groves High School in Birmingham, Michigan, where he made a lasting impact on students, parents and colleagues alike.

Throughout their lives together, Dick and his beloved wife, Liz lived in several communities across Michigan. In retirement, they moved to Fletcher, North Carolina, and later relocated to New Castle, Indiana to be closer to family.

Dick was an active and engaged member of his community. He was a devoted member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council and numerous committees, sang in the choir, and was always willing to help out wherever needed. A lifelong HAM radio operator, he was an active member of the Henry County Radio Club. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge, where he enjoyed weekly gatherings with friends. Dick loved visiting the Henry County Farmers Market and was known and welcomed by many of the vendors. He was involved in numerous other community organizations, AA being one of them. He was always willing to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed.

Dick enjoyed cooking, baking, grilling, reading, technology, and photography. He especially loved feeding the birds and watching to see which ones visited each feeder.

Dick had a remarkable gift for conversation—he could talk to anyone about anything and always found a bit of common ground. It was a trait he passed on to his daughter, who is deeply grateful for that gift.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Elizabeth D. Smith (Liz), and his parents.

He is survived by his daughter, Rebecca S Hawrot, and her children Hannah M. Bullens (Alex L. Bullens), Klarysa D. Hawrot, and Jonathon (Jack) M. Hawrot (Ashlyn N Hawrot), as well as his great-granddaughter Camryn L. Hawrot.

Dick is also survived by his siblings Burris Smith (Kathy), Ellie DuCharme (the late Tom DuCharme), and Marty Smith (Gary Becker).

And we cannot forget his “extra” grandchildren Myriah Hawrot, Kaysn Hawrot and Xavier Hawrot. They brought light to his life and he loved interacting with them as much as possible.

Dick will be remembered for his kindness, his curiosity, and his ability to connect with others. He leaves behind a legacy of learning, service, and love for his family and community.

A memorial service will be held on April 25, 2026, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, with a receiving line beginning at 1:00 p.m. and the service at 2:00 p.m. The service will also be live streamed on Facebook.