Richard Smith

Richard D. “Hatchet Jack” Smith, 58, of Zanesfield, Ohio, died Saturday, November 15, 2008, at The Ohio State University Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

He was born in Bellefontaine on August 15, 1950, a son of Richard H. Smith, who survives in East Liberty, Ohio, and the late Lois J. Sampson, who died August 9, 2005. He also was preceded in death by an infant granddaughter, Michelle Lensman.

On March 21, 1969, he married the former Jane Fout in Zanesfield and she survives, along with a daughter, Amie (Shawn) Blair of Pickrelltown, Ohio; brothers, Donald E. Smith of East Liberty, and James Daniel (Karen) Smith of Austin, Texas; and a granddaughter, Katelyn Lensman of Pickrelltown.

For 25 years, he worked at Harding Machine and currently worked for Great Lakes Assemblies. A 1968 graduate of Logan Hills High School and a U.S. Navy veteran, he made custom muzzleloaders and loved shooting black powder guns. He also enjoyed deer hunting and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Don K. Miller conducts the funeral service at 1 p.m. Thursday, November 20, 2008, at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine, where calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening and one hour prior to the funeral. Burial is in Highland Memorial Cemetery in West Liberty, Ohio, where the Logan County Honor Guard conducts a graveside service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association P.O. Box 163549 Columbus, Ohio 43216-3549.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at eichholtz@embarqmail.com

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