Stephen R. Smith

Asheville – Stephen R. Smith passed away Thursday, November 24, 2005, at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, from heart failure. Born in Troy, New York, September 30, 1924, Steve grew up in Philadelphia and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he graduated from the University of Virginia and Yale Law School. He practiced law first in New York City and then Chicago, where he joined Sunbeam Appliance Company, rising to President before retiring to Asheville in 1985 and became part owner of Dampp-Chaser Electronics Co. in Hendersonville. He also served as president of the Men’s Garden Club of Asheville and, in 1998-99, of The Gardeners of America and Men’s Garden Clubs of America. Steve is survived by his wife of 37 years, Nancy Ricker Smith; five children by a former marriage, Virginia Smith of Canada and Florida, Dr. Karl Smith, and his wife Liz of Florida, Alice Keller of California, Dr. Robert Smith, and his wife Patty of Pennsylvania and Christopher Smith, and his wife Susan, of New Jersey. He also is survived by twelve grandchildren, three great grandchildren and his brother, Richard Smith of Alabama. He was preceded in death by a son, Stephen Smith of Salt Lake City, Utah. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, December 30, 2005 in the St. Giles Chapel at Deerfield Retirement Community. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Deerfield Retirement Community Center, 1617 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803, the American Parkinson Disease Association, University of Virginia Health System, 500 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Box 801018, Charlottesville, VA 22908 or to the Men’s Garden Club of Asheville, P.O. Box 633, Asheville, NC 28802.