Larry Dean Smith
Larry Dean Smith, 58, of rural Columbia City died Friday, Sept. 6, 2019 at IU Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis where he was admitted last Saturday following a fall.
He was born on Sept. 27, 1960, in Columbia City, a son of the late Richard D. and Ann (Bechtold) Smith. His formative years were spent in Columbia Township and he graduated from Columbia City Joint High School in 1980.
In 1979, he was involved in an automobile accident that left him a paraplegic. Although wheelchair bound for mobility, his handicap did not dampen his spirit or outgoing personality. He is remembered by his family and friends as a fun-loving, active person earning him the nickname of “Goodtime Larry.”
Following his graduation, he moved to San Luis Obispo, California for about five years returning to the area in the late 1980s.
For many years he played wheelchair basketball nationally with the Turnstone Bandits during which he befriended many players across the country and Canada.
For 20 years, he was the circulation manager for the Post & Mail, Columbia City. More recently, he worked for AME machine shop in Ligonier.
An avid race car fan, he liked watching dirt track racing and followed Jeff Gordon during NASCAR career. He was a diehard Chicago Bears and IU Basketball fan. Living near a lake, he enjoyed fishing.
He is survived by his brother, Timothy A. (Kim) Smith of South Whitley; nieces, Andrea (Ben) Lortie, Lang Johnson, and Brittany (Kris) Shoemaker; nephew, Bradley Smith; and seven great nieces and nephews.
Additionally, he was preceded in death by a sister, Tammy Zoch and nephew, Ryan A. Zoch.
A funeral service is 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at Smith and Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Visitation is 4 p.m. until the service Friday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at a later date the Eberhard Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to the American Heart Association or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.