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Rev. Robert “Bob” E. Smith, Sr. passed away at his residence on Hysell Run Road on February 10, 2013. Robert was born on December 24, 1921, in Rutland, Ohio, to the late Ernest and Maude (Cremeans) Smith. He was a 1939 graduate of Rutland High School.

He developed an early love for railroads and enjoyed working on the Crestline Railroad near Bucyrus, Ohio, before proudly serving his country with the Army detached service in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. He also worked in the coal mines and had his own sawmill and became a master electrician at the Philip Sporn Plant near New Haven, W.Va. He became a minister at the Hysell Run Free Methodist Church and later help found United Faith Church. Currently, he was a member of the Rutland Independent Holiness Church. He was involved in scouting for several years as district commissioner.

He enjoyed singing — especially gospel singing with his wife and children and the Smith Family Singers which included his wife, sisters, Glennis and Delores and brother, Luther. He helped form the Olde-Timers Quartet with Melvin Drake, Paul Musser and his son, Ernest. He developed a passion for painting landscapes and model railroading. Most of all, he loved his vegetable gardens and canning the produce it provided. He said the garden was the place he felt closest to his dad.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Eloise (Tate); brothers, Luther and Carroll Smith; sisters, Glennis Musser, Delores Schoppert Rodgers and Phyllis Hawk.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Shirley; daughter, Roberta Meyer of Middletown, Ohio; sons, Ernest Smith of Middleport, Ohio, and Robert E. (Paula) Smith Jr. of Shelbyville, Kentucky; step-son, Martin (Tammy) Woodard of Pomeroy, Ohio; and step-daughter, Tonya (Jay) Lawson of Reedsville, Ohio.

Also surviving are his grandchildren, David (Tina) Smith, Jason (Andrea) Smith, Ervin Edwards, Devin (Mubeenah) Moore, Brandon (Tricia) Smith, Indrek Meyer, Sarah Woodard, Ashley Woodard, Amber Lawson and Jason Lawson; great-grandsons, Bradley, Cody, Branden, Tyler, Justin, Levi, Maxwell, Clayton, Dalton, Naeew, Kyan, Weston, Baha and Miyaz; great-granddaughter, Eloise; great, great-grandson, Addison; great-great-granddaughter, Keira; sisters-in-law, Mary Smith, Barbara Smith, Carol (Marty) Hall, Alice (Rodney) McKee, Barb (Joe) McKee, Kay (Larry) Griffin and Ruth Tate; brothers-in-law, Dow (Betty) Lowery, Glenn Lowery, Bill (Cathy) Lowery, Roger Lowery and Raymond Smith; and two special survivors, Shirley Bucher and Carolyn (Ferrell) Siers.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2013, at the Anderson McDaniel Funeral Home in Pomeroy with the Rev. Gene Musser officiating. Burial will follow in the Miles Cemetery in Rutland. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, February 15, 2013, at the funeral home and one hour prior to the funeral service.

Military graveside rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post, Middleport.

An online registry is available at www.andersonmcdaniel.com.