ROBERT E. SMITH

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Robert E. Smith, age 72, died unexpectedly at his home in Kansas City, Missouri, Saturday, September 23, 2006, following a brief illness.

Robert Earl Smith was born to Emmett P. and Naomi M. Anderson Smith in Lawrence, Kansas on October 1, 1933. He attended Pinckney Grade School, Junior High School and Liberty Memorial High School in Lawrence, graduating with the class of 1951.

After briefly attending Kansas University, Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force. He spent three years in England assigned to Chicksands Air Force Base, intelligence unit.

Following honorable discharge from the Air Force, Bob returned to KU, graduating in 1960. In Kansas City, he worked as a floor director for KCMO-TV. He later re-trained as an accountant, working as auditor for the U.S. government in the General Services Administration, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

After retirement, Bob maintained a busy schedule of volunteering, reading for the Kansas Audio Reader Program, delivering Meals on Wheels, and helping at Shepherd's Center, St. Luke's Hospital, Harvester's, and more.

Bob married Marcia Jane Myers on February 8, 1964 in Kansas City. To this union was born a son, Michael Andrew Smith.

Bob loved traveling with his son, Formula One Auto Racing, and long talks about history, politics, and current events. Family and friends will always remember his carefully-edited home videos chronicling all of this and more. We will also remember his devotion to being his own person.

He was preceded in death by his parents Emmett and Naomi Smith. Emmett passed on September 14, 1988, Naomi on September 28, 1991.

Survivors include his son Michael and Michael's mother Marcia; a daughter-in-law, Shelly Brooks-Smith; two step-grandsons, Aliester and Addison Jones, all of Kansas City; a sister, Nancy Patterson and her husband Cliff of Fort Scott; five nieces, Sandra Patterson, Nevada, Mo., Sharon McGaughey, Pollock Pines, Calif., Brenda DeKeno, Pea Ridge Ark., Deborah Allen, Fort Scott, and Laura Soliday, Kansas City; 12 great-nieces and nephews; one great-great nephew; and a host of cousins.

Following cremation a private burial will be held at a later date.

Memorial services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, September 30, 2006 at Country Club Congregational United Church of Christ, Kansas City, Mo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Kansas Audio Reader program.