Ricky Smith

Ricky D. “Animal” Smith, of Odessa, NY, passed away on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca NY. He was born on April 25, 1959 in Hamburg, Germany to the late Dale and Elfriede (Klauer) Smith.

Ricky graduated from Newfield Central School and proudly joined the United States Army, serving from 1981-1985. After his military service, he worked as a union electrician for Local #241 in Ithaca, and also worked as an electrician in Florida. Ricky loved people and built many close relationships, creating bonds of mutual respect and love through inquiry, listening, laughing, storytelling, empathy, caring and generosity. He loved Harley motorcycles, the Miami Dolphins, dream catchers, hummingbirds, the color purple, researching his Native American Heritage, fishing with his grandson Colin, and decking out his vehicles ‘to the nines’.

Ricky is survived by loving wife, Diana Smith; and a daughter, Lacey Osborne; sisters, Tammy (George) Cutter and Nancy (Jim) Brown; brother, Tony (Doris) Smith; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; along with many other family members that will sadly miss him. He was predeceased by his parents; and brothers, Donald Smith and Robert Smith.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 12:00 (noon) at VFW Post #676, 2532 Steam Mill Rd. Odessa NY. Military honors will be presented at 12:00 (noon).