Ret. SGT. Ritchie Morgan Smith, age 70, of Bismarck , passed from this life on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at Saline County Memorial Hospital in Benton .  He was born August 27, 1947 in Dallas , TX , the son of Morgan William and Virginia Burleson Smith Jr.  Ritchie worked for Arkansas Bank and Trust for eleven years.  He retired after eighteen years from Arkadelphia Police Department in 2012 with the rank of Sergeant and served as the code enforcement officer at the end of his career.  Ritchie was past president of Hot Springs Optimis Club and was past Lt. Govenor of Optimis Club of Arkansas .  He was a former member of Bismarck United Methodist Church and former Sunday school teacher, and a current member of Geyer Springs Baptist Church in Little Rock .  Ritchie was preceded in death by his father and two brothers.

Ritchie is survived by his mother, Virginia Smith of Dallas, his wife, Joyce Elaine (Ritter) Smith of Bryant, one son, Tracy Smith of Hot Springs, one step son, Jason Wayne Hughes (Susan) of Bismarck,  two daughters, Richelieu Hunt of Hot Springs, and Amanda Smith of Phoenix, AZ, one step daughter, Gail Hughes (James) of Bryant, one brother, Kenneth Smith of Dallas, two sisters, Wanda McKinney and Elise Ledbetter both of Dallas, ten grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, February 26, 2018 at Bismarck United Methodist Church with Jason Hughes officiating.

Visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:00 PM Sunday at Welch Funeral Home.

Interment will be Private in Prairie Bayou Cemetery .

Casket Bearers will be Chief Jason Jackson, Sgt. Dean Palmer, Sgt. Jody Evans, Sgt. Don Cleek, Sgt. Andy Williams and Ptl. Dusty Welch.

Honorary Pallbearers-Arkadelphia Police Department.

Memorials may be made to Bismarck United Methodist Church 7075 Hwy 7 Bismarck AR 71929 .

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.  Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the guest book.