Name: Smith, Richard Martin
Born: 11/1/1927
Where Born: New Castle, Indiana
Ordained: 02/02/1955
Where Ordained: St. Meinrad, Indiana
Served From-To: 1955-1985
Died: 08/31/1985
Where Died: Starlight, Indiana
Buried: 09/04/1985 – St John the Baptist Cemetery Priests Plot Starlight IN
Father Richard M. Smith was born to parents Joseph A. Smith and Kathleen M. Smith on November 1, 1927. He was a native of New Castle, Indiana and survived by his parents and a brother, David A. Smith of Terra Haute, Indiana. He was ordained a priest at St. Meinrad in 1955. Father Smith’s first assignment was as pastor of St. Mary of Knobs Parish in Floyds Knobs and he was at St. Joseph Parish in Indianapolis before moving to Starlight in Clark County. Father Smith, 57, had been the pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish in Starlight since July 7, 1975.
Father Smith and two visiting priests died early Saturday, August 31, 1985, after a fire engulfed the two-story brick rectory. Firefighters found Smith’s body in a first floor office. The bodies of the Reverend Kenneth Smith (not related), 56, and the Reverend William Fisher, 60, both from Indianapolis were found in upstairs bedrooms.
Visitation was at parish church on Monday, September 2 and his Mass of Christian burial was conducted in this church the next day at noon. In Attendance were nearly 600 people including 90 priests. The Most Rev. Edward T. O’Meara, Roman Catholic archbishop of Indianapolis, delivered the eulogy. The Most Rev. Thomas C. Kelly archbishop of Louisville, assisted in the Mass. Parishioners, shocked by the unexpected death of their pastor, were soothed by O’Meara’s words.
Father Smith was laid to rest in parish cemetery.
