Dr. Richard M. (Pete) Smith

Dr. Richard M. (Pete) Smith, 79, of Gainesville, Georgia, died July 4, 2018 at The Landings of Gainesville.

Pete was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas September 9, 1938. After growing up in Hot Springs, he attended the University of Oklahoma and then transferred to Hendrix College where he played on the football team and was active in Methodist Youth events. He met his first wife, Elizabeth Annette Bormann, at Hendrix and were married in 1960. They had three children.

After graduation from Hendrix, Pete later attended St. Louis University where he earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. In 1966, he became a faculty member in the Counseling and Psychological Services Department at Georgia State College (later to be Georgia State University). Pete taught at Georgia State University and later served as Department Chairman until his retirement in 2000. He served in many other professional capacities during his career. He presented conflict resolution workshops for the Federal Prison System and also served as a vocational expert and consultant for the Social Security Administration for fifty years in the awarding of disability benefits.

Pete will always be known for his great hospitality, generosity, and love for his family.

Pete had a love of golf and played on courses with friends across the state of Georgia. He was a member of Snapfinger Woods in Dekalb County and loved playing in the Gainesville area at Chicopee Woods, Royal Lakes, and Chattahoochee Golf Club, among others.

Pete and Lynne (Cohen) Smith had been married for forty-one years. They had lived in the Gainesville area since 1983. Pete was preceded in death by his parents J. R. and Norma Anna Smith and sister, Marnette Dennis.

He is survived by his wife, Lynne Smith, two sisters, Anna Sherrill and Merrilyn Mann of Hot Springs, Arkansas, three children, Richard M. (Ric) Smith II, Randall Markham (Randy) Smith, and Robin Elizabeth Greene. Seven grandchildren include Abby Smith, Luke Smith, Rand Smith, Lila Smith, Bradley Smith, Connor Greene, and Haley Greene.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 14, 2018 in Hot Springs, Arkansas at the Elks Lodge at 12:00pm.

Memorial gifts may be sent in Dr. Richard M. Smith’s name to the Eagle Ranch, 5500 Union Church Road, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 or Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation. 

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com