Ronnie W. Smith Sr., of Indianapolis, Indiana, departed this life at the VA Hospital on February 19, 2016.

He was the son of the late James W. Smith Sr., and the late Mary Eliza Smith-Adams. He is preceded in his passing by his father James W. Smith Sr.; mother Mary E. Smith-Adams; brother James W. Smith Jr.; step-sister Anna Madison; and one grandchild Briten R. Smith.

Ronnie was a United States Navy Veteran who served in the Navy from 1952 to 1972. While in the service on the West Coast, Ronnie locked eyes on Mary Elizabeth Thompson whom he married in a small service in Alameda County, California on May 3, 1955. Upon their union they had five children. In 1972 Ronnie, Mary, and their four sons relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana where they settled on the southeast side of town. There they would welcome the light of his life, his only daughter Belinda.

After his retirement Ronnie attended Clark College where he obtained an Associate’s Degree in Business Management. In 1986 he would welcome his first grandchild; and later that same year he would welcome his first grandson. And in the years following he was proud to accept the host of little people whom he was ever-so-delighted to call “grand kids”.

Ronnie leaves behind the love of his life Mary E. Smith; brother Robert E. Smith; sister Betty Commadore; four sons Ronnie W. Smith Jr., Tommie C. Smith (wife Shirley), Lorin G. Smith, and Derek F. Smith (wife Gayle); the apple of his eye, his daughter Belinda K. Smith-Nelson (husband Columbus); eight grandchildren Lauren P. Smith, Marcus B. Smith, Tenekia N. Smith, Macy B. Smith, Mariah N. Smith, Troi K. Smith, Elissiah C. Nelson, and Braden K. Nelson; and five great-grandchildren.

Services will be held  March 7,2016 at Indiana Funeral Care and Crematory, Harry W. Moore Chapel, 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250. Friends and family may call from 9:30 am until 11 am, with the service starting at 11 am. Burial will follow at Marion National Cemetery with military honors.