Submitted by: Dan Rich

Ray Lyle Smith

Aug. 25, 1943 - Jan. 3, 2008

South Bend Tribune 1/6/2008
GRANGER - Mr. Ray Lyle Smith, 64, passed away during Open Heart Surgery Thursday about 5:20 p.m. in Northwestern University Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was born on August 25, 1943, in South Bend, to the late Harry and Pearl (Wiseman) Smith.

On February 10, 1962, he married Sue (Brothers) Smith who survives of Granger. For over 35 years was an employee at United Tool and Engineering and was currently the Tool & Die Shop Superintendent. Other survivors, besides his wife, Sue, include two daughters, Bonnie (Michael) Nowaczewski of South Bend and Vicki (Gene) Reece of Osceola; a son, Randy L. (Amy Baldorf) Smith of South Bend; two grandsons, Billy Reece of Osceola and Phillip Nowaczewski of South Bend; two brothers, Dale (Margaret) Smith of South Bend and Gene (Mary Ann) Smith of New Carlisle.

Mr. Smith was always very active. He enjoyed long distance running, having participated in many marathons, half marathons and 10k races. Every summer he would make it a point to take his son and grandsons out west for hiking, canoeing and camping; once going camping in tents in the middle of winter up at Warren Dunes. Ray was a huge Notre Dame sports fan as well as being a NASCAR fan.

Services will be Wednesday at 10:00 am in the McGann Hay Funerals | Cremations | Gatherings, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23 (enter off Cherry Rd.) with Rev. Milton Gould, Pastor of Willow Creek United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. Friends may call on Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, St. Joseph County Unit, Memorials and Tributes Lockbox, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.