Richard Francis Smith of Howard Lake, passed away on June 23, 2019 at the Buffalo Hospital
Funeral Service: 2 PM Saturday, June 29, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake
Visitation: 1 Hr. Prior to service at church on Saturday
Interment: Howard Lake Cemetery
Richard Francis Smith, was born on Sunday, September 28, 1924, in Howard Lake, Minnesota to Charles and Mary (Patrick) Smith. He grew up on a farm West of Howard Lake and graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1942. He went on to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, graduating in 1946. He served with the Merchant Marines in Australia and New Guinea during World War II.
Richard met Phyllis Mlinar of Spring Valley, Minnesota in Boston and married in 1955. To this union 3 children were born Carol, Richard, and Janet. The family made their home in the Ridgewood, New Jersey.
After the war, Richard worked in various aspects of the shipping industry. In 1962 he became a partner in the Sea King Corp. based in New York City. The company first operated a fleet of Liberty Ships and in the early 70’s added a fleet of tankers. In 1978, Crest Shipping Agency was formed and operated a steady fleet of 5 tankers trading worldwide. In the 90’s Crest was strongly involved in the Gulf War operation running a fleet of 10 Roll on Roll off vessels.
Throughout his life Richard enjoyed people and entertaining, traveling, gardening, and elk and pheasant hunting. One of his lifelong passions was downhill skiing with his family in Colorado and Switzerland. Richard retired 12 years ago to the farm in Howard Lake where he took up the hobby of making maple syrup. He was a member of the Masons and the American Legion.
Richard passed away of natural causes on June 23, 2019 at the Buffalo Hospital, Buffalo, Minnesota. He had reached the age of 94 years, 8 months and 26 days. Survivors include: wife Phyllis of Howard Lake, children: Carol M. Lehr (Joe Houghton) of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, Richard J. Smith of Minneapolis, and Janet E. Smith of Fairbanks, Alaska. Nieces Carla, Molly, and Kaye Smith, Marlys Milbrandt and Christine Gustafson (Mark), and many grand nieces and nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Mary, brothers Vernon (Allegra) and James, sister Mary Milbrandt (Paul), and nephew Allyn Smith.
Jun
26