Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Roderick “Rick” Smith, born July 22, 1948, to James and Avis Smith in Battle Creek, Mich., went to be with the Lord on May 18, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.
He and his wife, Judy White Smith, were currently residing in Castalian Springs, Tenn.
He was a 1966 graduate of Athens, Mich., High School and received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy-religion from Spring Arbor College (now University), Spring Arbor, Mich., in 1970. He completed his Master of Divinity degree in 1973 and his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1995, both from Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind. While a student at Spring Arbor College, Rick met and married Judy White, his wife of nearly 50 years.
Rick began his career as a pastor at Skiff Lake Bible Church in Clarklake, Mich., and served there from 1973 through 1979. He then served as pastor at Christian Fellowship Bible Church in Huntsville, Ala., from 1980 through 1984. He concluded his pastoral career at Calvary Baptist Church, Leesburg, Ind., serving from 1984 until retirement in 2010. During his years as a pastor, he and Judy served in short-term ministry in several foreign countries. That service was furthered when he and Judy joined Biblical Ministries Worldwide, Lawrenceville, Ga., in 2012 and con- tinued until the time of his death.
He was preceded in death by his parents and Judy’s par- ents, Paul and Betsy White, and his brother-in-law, John Tjepkema.
Rick is survived by his wife, Judy; his children Jill (Chad) Smith Knutson and Matthew (Lupita) Smith. He was the proud grandfather of Clara and Janny Knutson and Roderick (Ricky), Enoch and Linda Smith. He is also survived by his siblings, sister Kevin (Terry) Henckel, brother Dorian (Dyanne) Smith, and sister Kristen (John) Fantin; Judy’s sis- ter, Jan Tjepkema; and her sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan and Fred Pekrul and Jerie and Mike Dyer. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be at Calvary Baptist Church, Leesburg, on Saturday, June 8. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. with the service at 11 a.m. and fellowship meal at the conclu- sion of the service.
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Memorials to Grace Baptist Church, 201 Belinda Parkway,
Mt. Juliet, TN 37122; Calvary Baptist Church, 3065 E. Armstrong Rd., Leesburg, IN 46538; Memorial Foundation Hope Lodge, 2008 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203 (American Cancer Society); Skiff Lake Bible Church Missions Fund, 8277 S. Jackson Rd., Clarklake, MI 492134; and Biblical Ministries Worldwide, 1595 Herrington Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30043.
