Ralph W. Smith, 85 of Kansas City, MO, passed away, Saturday, January 17, 2009 at his residence. Services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at the Grace Point Baptist Church. Burial with full military honors will follow in the First National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, KS at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday. The family will greet friends from 9:00 a.m., until service time Wednesday at the church. Donations may be made to Alzheimer's Research or to Grace Point Baptist Church. Ralph was born May 5, 1923 in Arcadia, KS to Ira and Lucy (Palmer) Smith and graduated from Ft. Scott High School. He attended Pittsburg State University. He was a veteran of having served in the US Navy during WWII. He moved to the Kansas City area in 1955 when he took a job as a printer for the Kansas City Star and worked there until his retirement in 1988. He enjoyed genealogy, photography and was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan. He was a charter member and former deacon of the Ruskin Heights Baptist Church and current member of the Grace Point Baptist Church. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Kansas City Star Retiree's Association. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 39 years, Katherine (Mills) of the home; three sons, Terry Smith and wife Debbe of Leawood, KS, Bill Roach and wife Anna of Raymore, MO and Patrick Roach and wife Neomia of Commerce City, CO; two daughters, Gloria Baird and husband Carl of Raymore, MO and Phyllis Walters and husband Kevin of Raytown, MO; sixteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings and a daughter, Janet Bless. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Carson-Speaks Chapel)
Published in the Kansas City Star on 1/19/2009