TORRINGTON – Memorial services for Radford C. Smith, 80, will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 5, 2019, at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Wayland officiating. Burial of the ashes will follow in the Valley View Cemetery.
Rad died March 30, 2019, at his home and cremation has taken place. Memorials may be given to the Waggin’ Tails Animal Shelter. Arrangements are by the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com.
Rad was born in Herman, Minn., the son of John and Avis (McCollor) Smith. At the age of eight, he moved with his family to California, where he received his education, graduating from McClatchy High School in Sacramento, Calif., in 1957. He enlisted in the U.S. Army for three years ,where he was a paratrooper.
After his discharge he went back to California, where he met and later married Karen Porter on Nov. 18, 1961, in Lodi. They stayed in California until 1969 when they moved to Torrington and bought Bright’s Paint and Glass which they later renamed Torrington Glass and Carpet. They ran this until 1985 when they semi-retired. When Harding Glass in Gering, Neb., called he started managing their store there for two and a half years and then managed their store in Cheyenne until 2006, when he again retired. At that point he started building houses in Torrington.
Rad enjoyed golfing, traveling and hunting. He was a member of the Torrington Chamber of Commerce, the Torrington Volunteer Fire Department and the Country Club.
Rad is survived by his wife, Karen, of Torrington; two sons, Chad (Andrea) Smith of Loveland, Colo., and Mark Smith of Grand Island, Neb.; and two grandchildren, Abbi Wright and Braxton Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Kay Borges and Susan McCart.
