Robert E. Smith, Sr., Bob to all, died peacefully on June 17, 2018, in Clanton, AL. He is survived by his children Robert E., Jr, of Highlands, NC, and Alice Smith Morgan, of Clanton AL, and their spouses Susan and Paul; grandchildren Hunter Smith, Hilary Smith, Shannon Morgan Herald (Kenny), and Alice Anne Morgan Heath (Eric); and 5 great-grandchildren. His wife, Pearl Shannon Pogue, Tootsie to all, predeceased him in 2003. They were married 64 years. They met in grammar school, and eventually tied the knot in 1939. He is also survived by his brother-in-law William A. Pogue of Birmingham, and several Pogue nieces and nephews.
Bob was born August 13, 1915 in Birmingham to Ferdinand Elbert Smith and Alice Saucier Smith. He was the youngest of 11 children who predeceased him. He was Uncle Bob to 20 Smith nieces and nephews and numerous offspring thereof. After finishing Woodlawn High School, he attended Birmingham-Southern College and Auburn University, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering and a commission in the U. S. Army. He and Tootsie lived in Pittsburg after marriage, until he was called to active duty in 1940. He was assigned to the Army Air Corps and stationed in Greenland, Morocco, North Africa, Sicily and Italy with the assignment of engineer in airfield construction. He completed active duty in 1944, having attained the rank of Lt. Col. He continued in active reserve status, retiring in 1964 as a Colonel.
Upon his discharge he returned to Birmingham, where Tootsie lived during WWII, and was employed by Birmingham Electric Company. Their children were Born in Birmingham. Subsequently he joined Alabama Power Company, and in 1953 he was assigned to Anniston, AL with the Eastern Division as Industrial Sales Representative until his retirement in 1979.. He and Tootsie lived in Anniston until 1998, when they returned to Birmingham to live in Fairhaven Retirement Community.
Bob was a lifelong Methodist, active in church affairs his entire life. He was a devoted member of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity, having been initiated at Birmingham-Southern Beta Beta, and then a member at Auburn Alpha Epsilon. He enjoyed fishing, playing bridge, and exercising, a pursuit he took up later in life but followed as a routine well into his 90s. Together he and Tootsie enjoyed their large extended family very much through the years, and Uncle Bob served as organizer of many family reunions. He was admired by all and returned this by his deep devotion to them.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Johns-Ridouts Funeral Parlors, 2116 University Blvd.
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