Rochester, Indiana - Diane Richmond Smith, age 82, passed away Nov. 7, with loving family including several furry felines by her side.

She was born in Goshen to the late Wade B. Richmond and Marilyn Miller Richmond on July 17, 1943. She grew up in Nappanee and Wakarusa.

After marrying, she lived in North Carolina for over 50 years prior to moving back to Rochester, Indiana in late 2020.

In addition to her parents, Diane was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Gary W. Smith; her sister, Victoria Gene Newcomer Oglesby; and her brothers, Dennis and Scott Richmond.

Those left to cherish her memory are her siblings, David (Jane) Richmond, Wendy (Frank) Shirer, James (Teresa) Richmond, Matthew (Janet McGill) Richmond, and Donald (Pat Allen) Richmond; widows, Jane Richmond and Linda Richmond; her sister Vicki's children, Reagan Stiles and Ryan Oglesby; Diane's daughters, Connie (Craig) Philbeck and Kathryn (Jeff) Vlach and their children, BriAnna and Nicholas Vlach; as well as many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

Diane had a passion for educating children, working with them on their intellectual and emotional growth. She was quite proud of the impact she felt she made in working with "her kids."

She loved to watch British television and watch or read murder mysteries and had an interest in Civil War history. She amassed a collection of well over 2000 books of most all genres. She enjoyed being outside tending to her garden or inside crocheting or working on ceramics. She was a lover of all animals and especially enjoyed her cats. She was proud of the home she made in Rochester and spoke often of her neighbors who became close friends. Diane loved to go to Chick-fil-A with her daughters and enjoy the people watching and munching on chicken nuggets.

Most of all, Diane loved her family, spending time with them, telling stories of growing up in a small town, describing working on Mr. Gerber's farm and barrel racing, and creating memories that will last and bring smiles to her family's faces.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 21 at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee.

A funeral service will be held at 2 pm on Friday, May 22, also at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that you consider a donation in Diane's memory to the Carolina Waterfowl rescue at www.cwrescue.org; Doctors without Borders atwww.doctorswithoutborders.org; or Wounded Warrior Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.