David Leroy Smith
June 29, 1944 — March 4, 2025
David Leroy Smith was born left-handed to Wayne Evan Smith and Rita Beryl (Parker) Smith on June 29, 1944. He was raised on a farm in Bussey, Iowa and was a great big brother to Dennis ‘George’.
After his mother passed at an early age, he moved into town along with his dad and brother. He attended Bussey schools and found a love of sports in high school where he excelled in football and baseball. He was in the very first class to graduate from Twin Cedars High School.
Dave found the love of his life, Sandra (Beary) in that small town of Bussey. She happened to be walking by the railroad tracks and he asked if she wanted a ride home. The two were married in Lovilia, Iowa on November 14, 1964 when he was 20 and Sandra was 18.
They celebrated 50 years of marriage together before Sandra’s passing in 2015. In their marriage, they shared many of life’s obstacles together, including Dave being drafted to the Vietnam War where he served two years from 1968-1970 and also the loss of their first child in infancy, Adessa Marie in 1967.
Their marriage was also filled with blessings that included three children, Barry Wayne, Brian Edward and Shannon Marie and a little black doggie named Maggie. Dave and Sandra had a lot of fun times together with special friendships that lasted a lifetime. In their later years, they would frequent the casino together and would listen to ABBA on their way back and forth. They also loved to attend Iowa State sporting events with their kids and grandkids.
David provided for his family by working at Farm Service in Oskaloosa, Kaiser Ag in Lovilia and then working for Maytag in Newton for many years before his retirement.
In his younger days, Dave enjoyed playing first baseman on Bussey’s fast-pitch softball team and was quite the batter. In the 1980’s, after playing other recreational sports like tennis and bowling, Dave found the sport called golf. He also found that he had a natural talent for the game and became an avid golfer with a few trophies to showcase his wins. He became a member of Pine Knolls in Knoxville and met some of his best friends through those years of being a golfer.
He was a dedicated Atlanta Braves fan, and he especially loved being an Iowa State Cyclone; “loyal, forever, true”. He never missed a game – football or basketball - and he would watch replays over and over again. There were no better joys to him than a Cyclone victory or watching the Braves win the World Series.
There are many words to describe Dave but the one most used is “ornery”. He loved to joke around, and he enjoyed more than one good laugh. He loved visits from his grandchildren and cherished the special phone calls to tease or be teased by his beloved family.
Dave, with his family by his side, left this earth on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Sandra, his parents Wayne and Rita, his brother Dennis, his daughter Adessa, his nephew Benjamin Beary, and his little black doggie Maggie.
Left to carry on the ‘Super Dave’ legacy are his children, Barry (Carmen) Smith, Brian Smith, and Shannon (Anthony) Proctor; also, his grandchildren, Taylor (Devin) Chesler, Evan Smith, Caelie Smith, Jim (Jess) McCombs, Josh (Ashley) McCombs, Joe (Sam Pearson) McCombs, Brayton Proctor and Grayson Proctor along with 12 great-grandchildren and a dog named Nico. He is also survived by his two brothers-in-law, Joe (Lesley) Beary, Jerry (Lori) Beary, sister-in-law Jean Smith, and best friends Randy & Sheila Dunkin; plus, his nieces Nicole, Leanne and Katy, and nephews, Chad and Matthew along with their families.
After his mother passed at an early age, he moved into town along with his dad and brother. He attended Bussey schools and found a love of sports in high school where he excelled in football and baseball. He was in the very first class to graduate from Twin Cedars High School.
Dave found the love of his life, Sandra (Beary) in that small town of Bussey. She happened to be walking by the railroad tracks and he asked if she wanted a ride home. The two were married in Lovilia, Iowa on November 14, 1964 when he was 20 and Sandra was 18.
They celebrated 50 years of marriage together before Sandra’s passing in 2015. In their marriage, they shared many of life’s obstacles together, including Dave being drafted to the Vietnam War where he served two years from 1968-1970 and also the loss of their first child in infancy, Adessa Marie in 1967.
Their marriage was also filled with blessings that included three children, Barry Wayne, Brian Edward and Shannon Marie and a little black doggie named Maggie. Dave and Sandra had a lot of fun times together with special friendships that lasted a lifetime. In their later years, they would frequent the casino together and would listen to ABBA on their way back and forth. They also loved to attend Iowa State sporting events with their kids and grandkids.
David provided for his family by working at Farm Service in Oskaloosa, Kaiser Ag in Lovilia and then working for Maytag in Newton for many years before his retirement.
In his younger days, Dave enjoyed playing first baseman on Bussey’s fast-pitch softball team and was quite the batter. In the 1980’s, after playing other recreational sports like tennis and bowling, Dave found the sport called golf. He also found that he had a natural talent for the game and became an avid golfer with a few trophies to showcase his wins. He became a member of Pine Knolls in Knoxville and met some of his best friends through those years of being a golfer.
He was a dedicated Atlanta Braves fan, and he especially loved being an Iowa State Cyclone; “loyal, forever, true”. He never missed a game – football or basketball - and he would watch replays over and over again. There were no better joys to him than a Cyclone victory or watching the Braves win the World Series.
There are many words to describe Dave but the one most used is “ornery”. He loved to joke around, and he enjoyed more than one good laugh. He loved visits from his grandchildren and cherished the special phone calls to tease or be teased by his beloved family.
Dave, with his family by his side, left this earth on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Sandra, his parents Wayne and Rita, his brother Dennis, his daughter Adessa, his nephew Benjamin Beary, and his little black doggie Maggie.
Left to carry on the ‘Super Dave’ legacy are his children, Barry (Carmen) Smith, Brian Smith, and Shannon (Anthony) Proctor; also, his grandchildren, Taylor (Devin) Chesler, Evan Smith, Caelie Smith, Jim (Jess) McCombs, Josh (Ashley) McCombs, Joe (Sam Pearson) McCombs, Brayton Proctor and Grayson Proctor along with 12 great-grandchildren and a dog named Nico. He is also survived by his two brothers-in-law, Joe (Lesley) Beary, Jerry (Lori) Beary, sister-in-law Jean Smith, and best friends Randy & Sheila Dunkin; plus, his nieces Nicole, Leanne and Katy, and nephews, Chad and Matthew along with their families.
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