Richard Smith

WILSON - Richard Thorp Smith, Jr., 77, died Monday, August 30, 2010 in Morehead City. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Betty Jon Satchwell Smith; children, Elizabeth Dewey Smith Skinner, and husband, Ben, of Wilson; Richard Thorp Smith, III and wife, Beth, of Wilson; Sarah Cotten Smith Barnes and husband, Jimmy, of Raleigh; seven grandchildren, Sallie and Abby Skinner, Eliza Darden and Thorp Smith and Jimbo, Sarah Carr and Jack Barnes; a brother, William Carr Smith of Wilson and five nieces and nephews. A native of Wilson, he was the son of the late Eliza Eborn Carr Smith and Richard Thorp Smith. His sister, Sara Smith Tomlinson, nephew Robert Lee Tomlinson, III, brother-in-law, Robert Lee Tomlinson, Jr. and sister-in-law, Mary Louise Barnes Smith also pre-deceased him. He was educated in the Wilson City Schools, The Citadel, East Carolina and Atlantic Christian Colleges. He began his career in his family's tobacco warehouse and farming business. Later, he and his brother formed Smith and Smith Insurance Services and Real Estate. He also entered the building and land development business. During this time he served as president of the Tobacco Warehouse Association, the Wilson Board of Realtors and the Home Builders Association. His civic life included the Wilson Jaycees, Kiwanis Club and The Wilson Chamber of Commerce. He was elected to three terms on the Wilson City Council. Mr. Smith was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church. He served the church earlier as an Explorer Scout Leader and later as a Deacon and Ruling Elder. He loved spending time with his family at their cottage on Bogue Sound. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing and reading. He loved all children and they loved him in return. A Memorial Service will be Thursday, 11 AM at First Presbyterian Church, Wilson, with committal following in the church memorial garden. The family will receive visitors Wednesday, 6 - 8 PM at the home, 2303 Canal Drive, as well as after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 3184, Wilson, NC 27895 or to the charity of one's choice.