Raymond Sherwood Smith

Raymond Sherwood "Bud" Smith, II, 84, of Topeka, passed away on Wednesday evening, March 10, 2010 at Lexington Park Nursing Facility in Topeka. He was born April 20, 1925 in Topeka to Raymond Sherwood Smith I and Edith Lee Pennington Smith. Upon graduating from Topeka High school in 1943, he enlisted in the US Army and went with the 26th Infantry Division to Northern France. Sherwood was wounded twice, receiving the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star among other decorations. After his discharge, he attended Kansas State University where he received a degree in architecture. After working for other Topeka firms he started his own business in 1959. He did most of his work designing houses, apartments, motels and office buildings in Topeka and the surrounding area. His knowledge of older construction made him invaluable to remodeling projects throughout the area. His final project was the Chandler Library Pavilion just south of the Topeka library. He was a former member and Commodore of the Shawnee Yacht Club. He was a long standing member of West Side Christian Church, where he sang in the choir. He had been a member of the Topeka Symphony Chorus and later the Shawnee Choral Society. On Sept 11, 1953, he married Betty Joan Bennett. He is survived by his wife and their children - Sheree Smith, (Phillip Gonzales), Cary Phillips, Mona Morrissey, Brian Smith (Audrey), and Bruce Smith as well as 9 grand children and 2 great-grand children. He was preceded by a sister Sherlee Ann Wright. Services by Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel will be held at 11:00 Saturday, March 20, 2010 at Mount Hope Cemetery Mausoleum, Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 4125 SW Gage or West Side Christian Church, 432 SW Lindenwood.