Robyn Rob, RJ Joe Smiley

Robyn Joe Smiley, age 59, a resident of Hampton, Virginia passed away on Monday, May 8, 2017. He was born May 7, 1958 at Stuttgart Memorial Hospital, in Stuttgart, Arkansas to JoAnn Smiley. Robyn accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at a very early age, and became a member of First Baptist Church, where he was baptized and discipled under the leadership of the late Rev. Deltha Lee O’Neal, Sr.

Robyn attended school in the Stuttgart school district where he graduated from Stuttgart High School in 1976. He excelled academically and was a member of the National Beta Club. After graduation, he attended Arkansas State University, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. In 1978, he embraced the family tradition of service to others and joined the United States Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller. He served all over the United States, Japan, Europe and Southwest Asia (Desert Shield/Desert Storm). In June 1998, he was honorably retired from the United States Air Force. Upon retirement he returned to college to complete his Bachelor of Science Degree in Information System Technology.

While serving in the Netherlands, Robyn met Samantha Van der Schoot and they quickly became inseparable. They were united in holy matrimony on September 11, 1996 and remained best friends until the day of his passing.

Robyn was raised by his great-grandfather Samuel Savage and his great aunt Elurah Savage whom both loved and adored him. He is remembered by all who knew him as a humble, kind and very gentle soul.

Robyn was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Joe D. Smiley and Mildred Smiley Timmons, and one brother Maurice Savage.

He leaves to cherish his memories his devoted wife, Samantha, his mother Joann Smiley, North Little Rock, AR, four sisters; Tanya (Joseph) Bivens, of Clarksville, TN, Sharon (Frank), Porter, Sherwood, AR, Debra Gardenhire, Twinsburg, OH, Hollie (Maurice) Taylor, North Little Rock, and one brother Michael (Crystal) Lewis, Harlem, NY. His loving mother in-law, Maria de Jong, two sister in-laws, Sanny Van der Schoot, and Jolanda van der Schoot, nephews Dartellion Willems and Jayden van der Schoot, and niece Lesley Willems all whom reside in IJsselstein, Netherlands. He leaves a hosts of aunts, uncles, niece’s nephews and cousins whom loved him dearly.

Fly, Fight, Win…United States Air Force!