David Wayne Smith, 75, of Everest, Kansas, was called home by his Lord on July 9, 2024, after losing his battle with Multiple Sclerosis since his diagnosis in 1980, at the age of 31.

He was born on February 26, 1949 in Horton, Kansas one of five children born to J. Eugene "Smitty" and Inga Smith. David graduated from Horton High School in 1967 and worked for the Ford Motor Company in Kansas City, Kansas. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in January of 1968 and served in the Viet Nam War until August of 1969. David then later joined and served in the Army National Guard. David met the love of his life, Lona Vilander, on a blind date and nine months later they married on September 19, 1970, in Topeka, Kansas. He worked at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Topeka for eleven years and then worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation in Horton for thirty years until he was forced to retire due to his disability. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Horton, and he was a member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign War, and the Disabled American Veterans. He held numerous church offices, plus was an AWANA leader and Sunday School teacher.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lona Smith, a daughter, Cara Christian, a son, Tyler Smith, ten grandchildren, and a sister, Brenda "Sis" Hoobler. Greeting him in Heaven are his father, J. Eugene "Smitty" Smith, his mother, Inga Smith, two brothers, Gerald "Bub" Smith and Donald Smith, a sister, Debra Jean Clement and numerous other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Horton, Kansas where the family will greet friends from 9:30 A.M. until service time. A private family burial with full military honors will take place following the service at the Brush Creek Cemetery, southeast of Horton, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be given to the First Baptist Church in Horton and may be sent in care of the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary. A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com