Obituary

Richard Ashby Smarr
(October 15, 1927 - January 19, 2017)

RICHARD ASHBY SMARR joined his beloved wife Jo Ann before the throne of his Heavenly Father January 19, 2017. Born October 15, 1927, to the late Christian Levi and Florence Smarr, Dick was the father of four: Beth Smarr of Barboursville, WV, Robin Morgan (Mike) of Kitty Hawk, NC, Andy Smarr (Becky) of Huntington, WV, and Jack Smarr (Julia) of Versailles, KY. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Jo Ann and his sister Patricia Smarr Lawrence. He is also survived by his niece, Lana Connor, his sisters-in-law Toni Collins (Joe) of South Point, OH, and Linda Runyon (Charles) of Rush, KY, and a host of grandchildren: Travis Smarr, Kara Smarr, and Kelley Copeland of Virginia Beach, VA; Ryan Smarr (Maggie) of Turner's Falls, MA; Katie Morgan of Kitty Hawk, NC; Stephanie Morgan of Raleigh, NC; Ian Smarr of Lexington, KY; Raley Smarr of Murray State University, Murray, KY; Spc. Griffan Smarr of Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY; Sam Smarr of Versailles, KY; and six great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. Born and raised in the Altizer section of Huntington, Dick went to war at 17 as part of the replacement sailors in the Pacific in late 1945. He met and married the love of his life, Jo Ann Teets, January 16, 1950. As a printer, Dick worked at the Huntington Publishing Company from 1948 through his retirement in 1992. Along with his then 8-year-old son Andy, Dick joined the Boy Scouts in 1963, a major theme of the rest of his life. First as den master for his sons and then scout master, Dick saw both boys through to earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He served many years on the Eagle Board, shepherding many Tri-State Scouts to this high honor. As one of his beloved Scouts wrote, "Today the Scouting community lost a giant, Dick Smarr was one of my greatest role models and heroes coming up through scouting. He always had his trademark red felt jacket, walking stick and campaign hat. He always had some perfect advice for every situation and whenever you needed someone to talk to he was always there for you. He was also a living legend when it came to a guy who lived life to its absolute fullest, from fighting in the war, being Cam Henderson's student manager, to building his house from the ground up, his death while sad is also a reminder of a life well worth lived. My hope is that I could even live my life how he did. "Dick presented me my Eagle Scout using the Eagle Charge, something that stuck with me from July 2000 to today and I'm sure the hundreds of Eagle Scouts he gave the charge to can remember his words to this day. 'Completing the requirements and being presented your Eagle is the easy part, now its time for you to earn it, you're a marked man, people know you can do great things and can be turned to for help because you wear that badge. "You're going to be greatly missed, Bald Eagle, I owe most everything in Scouting and the person I am today to you." Dick was also active in many other Scout activities such as Order of the Arrow, Silver Beaver, and Wilderness Rangers. One of Dick's proudest achievements was leading nine expeditions of Scouts to Philmont Ranch in New Mexico. The area of life Dick saw as his highest achievement was his children. All four graduated from Marshall University and went on to prestigious careers. He often said how proud he was to have raised all his children to love God and live honestly. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Wallace Funeral Home, Barboursville. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, January 23, 2017 at the Wallace Funeral Home & Chapel, Barboursville, by Rev. Jerry Ryder and Pastor Evan Arkell. Burial will be in White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Barboursville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice whose help eased his last days.