Richard J. “Smitty” Schmidt, 80, died Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at Prisma Health Baptist Hospital in Columbia.
Born May 29, 1942, in Port Huron, MI, he was a son of the late Benjamin E. Schmidt and the late Viola Stanley Schmidt. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service and was a Vietnam War veteran. He was employed by Summer Arms Apartments, Holiday Manor and Sumter Place. He was a member of Westside Baptist Church, the Sumter Elks Lodge, and the VFW Post 3034.
Survivors include two children, Cheryl Schmidt of Sumter and Tony Schmidt (Billie) of Moyock, NC; three stepchildren, Richard Nelson of Sumter, Angela Timmons (Eugene) of Sumter, and Andrew Hansel of Sanford, NC; a daughter in law, Lori Ash of Sumter; six grandchildren, Amber Powers (Johnny), Steven Timmons (Alicia), Kevin Timmons, Chasity Barker, Harley Nelson, and Andrew Nelson; a great-granddaughter, Raelynn Powers; and two brothers, Edward Schmidt of Sumter and Michael Schmidt (Kay) of El Paso, TX.
He was preceded in death by a son, Paul Schmidt; a grandson, Christian Schmidt; wives, Chong Cha “Lee” Schmidt, Glenna Schmidt, and Irene Schmidt; and three brothers, Robert Schmidt, Jeffrey Schmidt, and Gary Schmidt.
A memorial service will be held at 5:30 P.M. Tuesday at Westside Baptist Church with the Rev. Allen Jones officiating. Burial will be in the St. Lawrence Cemetery.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.