Robert Earl Smith
Robert Earl Smith
Robert Earl Smith, better known as Bob, passed away Sept. 16, peacefully at home with his wife Norma and daughter Melinda there to comfort him.
Bob was born Aug. 14, 1934, outside of Springfield, Mo., where he lived until he was 16, moving with his family to Lee’s Summit, Mo. He graduated high school there, where he met and later married his wife of 68 years, Norma (just 3-months shy of 69 years). He worked over 30-years at the local utility company where he learned to weld, later becoming a welding foreman.
After retiring, he and Norma moved to SunBird in 1998 and they both fell in love with the SunBird way of life. Being avid golfers, they played several days a week, year-round for 20+ years, both as a twosome and as proud members of the Bandits—Bob had seven holes-in-one to his credit. He also liked to “tinker,” as he put it, with golf carts. Buying, fixing up, and reselling—he never forgot one of them, being sure to point them out when seeing them go by on hole 14.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents Tony and Opal Smith, brother Charles, and his son Scott Craig Smith. He is survived by his wife Norma, son Mark (Julie), daughter Melinda, grandson Jeremy (Monica), granddaughters Mason and Megan, grandson Maclain, and great-granddaughters Madison and Maridith.
We wish to thank our wonderful friends here in SunBird for all the cards, food, plants, flowers, and hugs.