In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection, we commend the following servant to the everlasting care of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the death of Rev. A. Richard Smith. He died Tuesday, August 25,2020. We mourn his death, we celebrate his life, and we commend him into God’s loving care.
The family will be holding a memorial service for A. Richard at a later date.
A. Richard was born on Sunday, June 10, 1928, and spent his 92 years making a difference in the lives of everyone who knew him and many more who did not. He graduated college in 1949. He began mission work in Tullahoma, in 1950, while he was in seminary. Newcomers to the area were looking for a Lutheran church in their town, and he was glad to help get something started and then move to the next project after a couple of years. Trinity Lutheran Church became an established church with its first 50 members and its first minister, who remained for 42 years.
Baptisms, weddings, and funerals were expected at any church, but Pastor Smith brought the community to the congregation and the congregation to the community. A friend shared, “He turned Trinity Lutheran Church into much more than just a Sunday morning congregation, hosting the Tullahoma Day Care Center until it built its own building on part of the property, the Mother’s Day Out program, Farmer’s Market, AA programs, and was available for pastoral counseling at any time of the day or night.” When he wasn’t preaching, counseling, or taking care of his family, he could be found at the University of the South in Sewanee, where he taught Greek.
A. Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Ollie, Sr. and Pauline, his brother, Ollie, Jr., and his treasured grandson, William “Shane” Carnahan. A. Richard is survived by his wife of 69 years, Olga, and their three children: Paula (Clint) Carnahan of York, SC; Eric of Winchester, TN, and Terese (Bill) Burns of Conifer, CO; along with 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Special memories of A. Richard Smith may be sent by email, to ARichardSmithMemories@gmail.com, or by mail to:
A. Richard Smith Memories
Trinity Lutheran Church
705 Wilson Ave
Tullahoma, TN 37388
Let us pray:
“O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our Brother, A. Richard Smith. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.”
