Visitation for Robert will be held one hour prior to funeral service on Friday November 11, 2022 at Moore
Funeral Home, Arlington, Texas, with the funeral beginning at 11:00 am. Interment will occur at Moore Memorial Gardens, Arlington, Texas.
Robert (Bob) Eugene Smith was born June 18, 1931, to Clarence (John) and Marshia Smith in Decatur, Indiana.
After High School graduation, Bob attended Purdue University for two years before enlisting in the Air Force.
Bob was an extremely talented young man, able to accomplish any task put before him. Upon his discharge from the Air Force he returned to Decatur and immediately became a farmer, helping his grandparents. Bob became an auctioneer, owning his own livestock auction barn; owned his own welding company, designing and creating many pieces of equipment and building of bridges. For a few short years Bob drove an over-the road big rig across the country before operating heavy equipment - building roads all over Indiana and the surrounding areas, eventually becoming one of the best "Big" crane operators in the country. In 1971 Bob moved his family to Texas and took the job of setting the control tower at DFW Airport - from that time on the work was non-stop until retirement in 2000. Nearly everything in the DFW metroplex and throughout the state that was high, heavy, or just plain difficult was a challenge that was met with confidence and accomplishment.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence (John) Smith and Marshia Smith; mother of his children, Delores Houston; beloved wife of 39 years, Annetta Belle Smith; two bonus sons, Richard and Gregory Dedrickson; and daughter, Lisa Minnis.
Survivors: sisters, Janet Manns and Judith Lawrence; children, Linda Cook-Fournet (Raymond), Cindy Goss, Bobbie Blakely (Gary), Barry Smith, and Nancy Kee; bonus children, Michael Dedrickson (Gwen) and Laurie Darden (James); 19 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and cherished nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob's memory may be made to Fielder Road Church, 2011 S Fielder Road, Arlington, Texas 70613, www.fielder.org.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moore-funeralhome.com for the Smith family.
DONATIONS
Fielder Church 2011 S Fielder Road, Arlington, Texas 706013
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