Obituary of Richard Joe Smoot

Richard Joe Smoot

Of Accoville, WV

   Richard Joe Smoot, 68, of Accoville, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 16, 2019, at Logan Regional Medical Center, after a long illness.

   He was born on October 3, 1950, at Accoville, a son of the late Ralph and Lula Marie (Robinson) Smoot.

   In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Ronald Gene Smoot, Jesse Smoot, and Otis Smoot; and Vickie Smoot Elkins and Joyce Smoot Atkins.

   Richard was a 1969 graduate of Man High School.  After graduation, he went to Cleveland, OH where he worked in the steel mills.  He returned to WV in 1970 and met the love of his life, Cathy Stepp, and they married that very year.  Richard began his career as a coal miner, then as an electrician, and ended his career as a surface mine welder when he retired after 31 years in the mining industry.  He was a proud member of the UMWA District 17.  He became a Christian in 1978 and loved to work in and around the church.  Richard was a diligent worker for the Lord willing to serve in any capacity through the years including in bus ministry and as an adult Sunday School teacher.  He was a member of the Accoville United Methodist Church where he was faithful in attendance until his illness.  Devoted to his family, Richard was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

   Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 48 years, Cathy (Stepp) Smoot; three sons, Richard Douglas Smoot of Accoville, Christopher Shane (Kimberly) Smoot of Crooked Creek, and Daniel Ryan (Elizabeth) Smoot of Accoville; five grandchildren, Richard Joe Smoot II of Accoville, Chelsie Nicole Smoot of Chapmanville, Douglas Cody Smoot and Savannah Shane Smoot, both of Pineville, and Aiden Ryan Smoot of Chapmanville; one great-grandchild, Kendalyn Nicole Smoot of Chapmanville; three sisters, Anna Lee Smoot Kofoed of Joliet, IL, Linda Smoot (James “Jimmy”) Gilbert and Jean Smoot (Lindsey “Bud”) Blankenship, both of Brunswick, OH; one brother, Roger (Marilyn) Smoot of Brunswick, OH; and many nieces and nephews along with a host of other relatives and friends.

   Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until 1p.m. at the Accoville United Methodist Church at Accoville.

   Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, 2019, at the Accoville United Methodist Church with Rev. Sharlene Williams officiating.  Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens at Godby.

   Pallbearers will be Scott McNeely, Steven Evans, Joshua Lowe, James Williams, Joe Smoot, Cody Smoot, Derek Messer, and Larry Sansom.

   Online condolences may be sent to www.krantzmcneelyfuneralhome.com

   Arrangements have been entrusted to the Krantz-McNeely Funeral Home at Man.