Robert Lee Smith

A celebration of the life of Robert Lee Smith, 75, of Longview will be at 10 am Wednesday, March 7, 2007 in the chapel of Rader Funeral Home with Reverend Gary Fredrick and Reverend Jerry Turner officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Park Cemetery. The family will receive family and friends at the funeral home Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 pm. Robert, a longtime Longview resident, passed away surrounded by his loving family on March 4 after a long hard fought battle with heart disease. He lived through his illness with great determination and courage, and he never lost his love of life. Born in Tyler, Texas on November 12, 1931 to Claude and Jo Smith, Robert was a 7th generation Texan who took great pride in his family and his heritage. He is a graduate of Kilgore High School and went on to attend the University of Texas where he was a member of the Theta Xi fraternity and he graduated with a business degree from the University of North Texas. He also served his country during the Korean War in the US Army. Robert found great passion in many things. He was an avid aviator, flying his own plane for many years; during years in Houston, he loved to spend time boating in the Galveston Bay; and he spent many hours tracing his family roots back to the first settlers in Texas. After retirement from a long career as an oil industry executive in Longview, Shreveport and Houston, Robert found time to travel to destinations such as Alaska and Bangkok and he took up hobbies in art and genealogy. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his children, Donna Ward and husband Russell of Lngview, Kelly Lugar and husband, John, of Arlington, Virginia; grandchildren, Robert & Chase Ward of Longview and Preston and Griffin Lugar of Arlington, VA; brother Claude Smith of Longview; sister, Pat McGuffin of Longview; numerous nieces and nephews, a number of other relatives and a special companion, his dog, Max. The family asks that memorial donations be made to the American Heart Association. His family would like to express their deep and heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Crumpler and Dr. Yu for their commitment to and compassionate care for Robert, and a special thank you to Dr. Gerber, Dr. Kiser and the staff of the ICU at Good Shepherd Medical Center. A memorial Guest book may be signed at www.raderfh.com.

Robert Lee Smith

November 12, 1931 - March 4, 2007