Robert Larry Smith, husband of Martha Gant Smith, died Monday, September 6th, at his home in Cary, NC. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio and received a Bachelor of Architecture from Ohio University. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Robert Smith and Eula Maye Styles. He is survived by his wife and two sons; Chris Smith of Waxhaw, NC, wife Jeanne, and grandchildren Matthew, Justin, and Emily; and Eric Smith of Sumter, SC, wife Jennifer, and granddaughter Taylor.
Larry, a firm believer in hypergamy and lover of complicated words and dry humor was wed to Martha Smith on December 29th, 1964. Over the course of 56 years of marriage they lived in Columbus, Ohio, Devola, Ohio, Beaver, West Virginia and ultimately landed in Cary, North Carolina in 1981. Larry was able to finally put his work into practice at home where he designed and built the house they have lived in for over 35 years.
Larry loved his wonderful bride, children and grandchildren but may have loved golden retrievers a bit more. He is envisioned now to be happily throwing a stick for Ginger, Sunny, Cody and Bo over the rainbow bridge.
He was an avid reader of science fiction and a big fan of auto racing (mainly Indycar and Formula 1 but you can’t live in NC and not like some Nascar as well). He also loved to surf fish with his architect buddies who all got together and made annual trips to the Outer Banks of NC. These trips started in 1974 and ran into the early 2000’s. Some years many fish were caught and some years none were caught but many lies were told, poker hands won and lost and lifetime friendships were made.
The only thing that Larry hated were squirrels. He constantly battled them at his home and deeply resented their sneering gestures from the fence in the back yard. While his wife, children and grandchildren will miss him deeply we are pretty sure the squirrels will not.
Services will be held on Sunday, September 19th at 2:00 p.m. at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church located at 200 High Meadow Drive, Cary, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Transitions Lifecare, Kirk of Kildaire Endowment Fund, your local animal shelter or any other charity of your choice.
Link to Larry's Funeral Service: https://youtu.be/wBLlHYb2qkg
Link to the family's memorial slideshow: https://youtu.be/nXNY19fSBjg
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5