Former Chesterton luminary Richard M. Smith, died Sunday, October 24, 2004, peacefully at home in Albuquerque, N.M. with family at his side. He was 94.

He was born June 11, 1910 in Chesterton, the only child of Anne E. Smith and Harry R. Smith.

He was a great-grandson of Jesse Morgan, an early settler, who came to Westchester Twp., Porter County, Ind. in 1833, when he received a land patent to farm on the east side of present-day Chesterton. (Porter Chesterton Medical Center is now located on part of the site.)

Smith graduated from Chesterton High School and from Indiana University with a business degree. He was a longtime businessman in Chesterton until his retirement in 1975. His grandfather and father started a general store, M. Smith & Son, in 1898, which he later managed and updated into a women’s apparel business (Currently Antiques 101 is located in the building. It also housed the first telephone station on the second floor). He started an auto dealership, Smith Motors, in 1946, which sold Pontiacs and eventually Buicks until his retirement in 1975 when he sold it to Jack Connors and family.

Smith managed a family farm, carrying on a four generation tradition since Jesse Morgan homesteaded in the 1830s. He also was a director and one of the principal stockholders in Chesterton Rural Loan & Savings that his father helped start in the 1920s.

Smith belonged to many civic organizations and was a leader in the community. He was instrumental in donating land for the Duneland YMCA and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church. He was past president of the Indiana Automobile Dealers Assn.

In his retirement, he and his wife, Yolonda, moved to Denver, Colo., where he pursued his passion for snow skiing, golf, theater and world traveling. Richard and Yolonda moved to Albuquerque five years ago to be closer to family.

His first wife, Beulah E. Kimberlin, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife, Yolonda Smith of Albuquerque; children, Tom Smith of Chesterton; daughters Nancy Rademacher (Kurt) of Corte Madera, Calif. and Susan Horn (Karl) of Albuquerque; grandchildren, Brendan Smith (Gwen) and Mark Smith, both of Chesterton; Molly and Erik Rademacher of Corte Madera, Calif., and Oliver and Natalie Horn of Albuquerque; great-grandchildren, Ian, Marissa, Gillian and Blair Smith, all of Chesterton.

A memorial service with interment of ashes will be held at a later date in Chesterton.

Memorials may be given to the Westchester Twp. Historical Museum, Chesterton.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home.

Posted 11/5/2004