Robert Lee Smith's Obituary
Robert Lee ?Bob? Smith
Robert Lee ?Bob? Smith died of cancer August 27, 2004. He was born March 21, 1933 to Robert Lee and Bessie Myrtle Ward Smith in Louisville, KY. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by his maternal grandparents, Homer and Gertrude Ward Terry of Louisville, KY. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Private family memorial services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Bonnie Duff-Neal Smith, two adored sons; the eldest Robert Lee Smith, III, and daughter-in-law, Deborah Sabol Smith and two grandchildren, Samantha and Scott Smith of Highland Park, IL.; and youngest son, John Michael Smith of Longview, TX.; a sister, Becky Fuller McIntyre and husband Bob of Melbourne, FL.
Robert was on active duty with the Kentucky National Guard during the late 1940?s. His working career was centered primarily in Metal Fabrication products. After more than 30 years as a designer of innovative electro-mechanical machinery, with extensive knowledge in various related fields and a specialist in difficult design metal fabrication, he maintained ?state-of-the-art? knowledge in all these fields up to retirement. Robert retired as Operations Manager of FHA, a division of EG&G-Rotron in San Diego, CA. in 1994, where he participated in design and invention of equipment for military use. Previously he had been employed by ION Beam Precipator Co, of Houston, TX., as manager of production, where one of his projects was the fabrication of a Precipitator for a power company in Minnesota; and Polutrol, Inc. as Vice President of Production Manufacturing, where he was instrumental in start-up and successful growth of the company. Earlier in his career, he had been employed by Allied Industries, a division of Brown & Root, as Shop Superintendent of a 150 personnel fabrication shop in Houston. His favorite hobby was the design and building of working Model Steam Engines.
In lieu of flowers, please send a remembrance to Greater Hospice of Texas, P.O. Box 9725, Longview, TX. 75608.
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