Ronald E. Smith

Ronald Eugene Smith age 71, of Desoto, Kansas passed away peacefully on January 7, 2020 at Kansas City Hospice House. Ron was born June 22, 1948, to Frank and Hazel Shaw Smith, in Topeka, Kansas. He was baptized in the Southwest Baptist church at the age of 15. He attained the rank of an Eagle Scout. Ron graduated from Topeka West High School with the class of 1967 and completed his junior year of college. Ron served in the United States Navy as a Petty Officer 3rd Class from 1967 to 1971. He worked for the State of Kansas, Department of Revenue for 26 years. Ron married Diane Kay (Esslinger) Smith on July 22, 1979 at the Wenger Office park in Sabetha, Kansas. With that union they had three sons and one daughter. Ron was an avid hunter & fisherman. He enjoyed many hours hunting and fishing with his father. He had a love for God and served with his pastor most of his high school years at church summer camps. He loved going to church and always wanted to look his best for God. Ron had a huge love for music and sang in a barbershop quartet while living in Topeka, KS. He had so much compassion for animals and enjoyed working on the family hog farm in Scranton, KS. Ron was active in organizing father/son canoe trips with his church family. He enjoyed hayrides at the farm in Tonganoxie, Kansas. He loved golfing, playing in several tournaments and enjoyed many other sports. Ron is preceded in death by his father, Frank Smith. He is survived by his wife, Diane, son, Matthias & Polly Smith of Grandview, MO, son, Nathanael & Ann Smith of Livonia, MI, daughter, Rebekah (Smith) Roberts of Shawnee KS, son, Nicolas Smith of Lawrence, KS, two grandsons, Danny Lee Roberts and Tyler Eli Roberts, mother, Hazel P. Smith-Tindall, sisters, Cathy Olsen of Topeka, Kansas and Marlena Baldwin of Blue Springs, Missouri. Private Services