Robert H. Smith

Robert Harley Smith died at home surrounded by loved ones on Saturday, May 10, 2008, at 11:30 p.m. He was 88. Mr. Smith was loved and known by others as "Smitty," "Bob," "Bobby," "pops," "dad" and "paw paw." Mr. Smith requested that family and friends celebrate his life. Service at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at 10 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Chris Andrews. Burial in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until service time. He was born June 2, 1919, in Champagne, Ill., to the late Harley Raphael Smith and Mary Ellen Thomas Smith. Mr. Smith arrived in Baton Rouge in 1940 to pursue his bachelor's degree in business. In July of 1941, he received his induction letter from the U.S. Army. In September of 1941, he began his indoctrination and infantry basic training. In 1941, he was assigned to Camp Walters located in Mineral Wells, Texas, to Battalion 156 as a clerk where he was promoted to corporal. In 1943, he was sent to Algeria for preparation for the Salerno Invasion where he was trained in demolition. He participated in the Salerno, Italy, invasion of 1943 as an assistant squad leader in 3rd Battalion, I Company, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. Mr. Smith next went to Naples as a battalion headquarters clerk and in France, Germany and Austria as a division rear clerk where he was promoted to sergeant. At the end of World War II, he was honorably discharged from the Army. Mr. Smith returned to LSU where he received his bachelor's degree in 1948. After receiving his business degree from LSU, he partnered with his brother, J. Paul Smith at J. Paul Smith Co. Inc., a building specialist firm with a dynamic presence in Baton Rouge for three decades. His other places of employment included Redi-Built Homes and River Rubber Inc. as an office manager before retiring in 1985. His community service activities included a multitude of service projects as a 52-year Melvin Jones member of the Lakeshore Lions Club and his 29 years as an active member of the Baton Rouge Intercivic Club Council. Mr. Smith was an active member for seven years in the Robert E. Lee High School Dad's Club. He was also an active member of the American Legion Post 38. Military honors that he was most proud of include the Bronze Star medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation and in 1999, he was presented a plaque by the minister of defense in France for his participation in the Libertation of Provence-Alps-Cote d'Azur. Mr. Smith shared many memories of Arrowhead Street, fishing at False River and golfing at Howell Park. He enjoyed feeding and watching squirrels and birds during his leisure time. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge since 1950. His family includes his wife of 24"° years, Mary Virginia Evans McDowell Smith; two daughters, Deborah Karen Smith Setliff and husband John R. Setliff Sr., of Cookeville, Tenn., and Karen Lynn Smith and husband Charmas Dodson, of Pride; four grandchildren, John R. Jr. and Adam Lee Setliff, of Tennessee, and Frances Marie and Christine Mary Henson, both of Baton Rouge; two stepsons, Scott Evans McDowell and wife Mary Beth and Gordon Dean McDowell and wife Tammy Lain, all of Baton Rouge; five step-grandchildren, Christopher Robert McDowell, Kara Lea McDowell, Charles Trafton McDowell, Taylor Lain McDowell and Kirsten Leigh McDowell, of Baton Rouge; and a step-great-grandchild, Braydn Paul Cambre, of Baton Rouge. In addition to his parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his first wife, Hettie Marie Stringfield Smith; brother, J. Paul Smith; and a sister, Lorine Smith Beckham. Pallbearers will be family members. The Rev. Chris Andrews of First United Methodist Church will officiate the services. Rabenhorst Funeral Home East is in charge of arrangements. A special thanks to his many neighbors, Baton Rouge Fire Department and Hospice In His Care, including Kacie and Dee, for their heart compassion and care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lions Club Crippled Children's Camp, P.O. Box 171, Leesville, LA 71496, (800) 348-6567.