Robert "Rob" L Smith

Robert "Rob" Smith, 78, entered his Heavenly home on May 30, 2026, to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born on August 12, 1947, in Elkhart, Indiana, to Gloria and Luther Smith, the oldest of five children.

Rob graduated from Elkhart High School in 1966 and was later drafted into the United States Army. During his service, he learned he had juvenile diabetes. He entered the Army on October 19, 1968, and served until July 31, 1973. Stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, he trained as a cook and later became an executive chef.

Though reading was a challenge for him, Rob had a remarkable gift for mathematics and could perform complex calculations in his head with ease.

Rob was first married to Susan Chiss. Though their marriage ended in divorce, Rob and Susan remained in occasional communication, as did Pat over the years.

Raised as a Seventh-day Adventist, Rob's faith journey led him to Northway Baptist Church in Dallas, where he became a Christian and was baptized by Billy Webber on July 10, 1977. It was there that he met Pat and her daughter, Michelle. The two quickly fell in love and were married on June 16, 1979.

Rob was known for his warm smile, brown eyes, and unforgettable blue van with heart-shaped windows and shag carpet. He loved sports! An avid cyclist, he completed several 100-mile rides as a member of the Richardson Bicycle Touring Club and earned numerous honors, including the Royal Order of the Purple Toe. He also enjoyed coaching the women's softball teams at Northway Baptist Church.

Rob and Pat shared many adventures together throughout their marriage. After a few camping trips, Rob discovered Pat preferred hotels to tents, and their travels happily reflected that lesson.

Rob was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Chris Smith. He is survived by his wife, Pat Smith; his stepdaughter, Michelle; his grandchildren, CJ Chaffin and Brian Chaffin; his siblings, Richard (Rick) Smith, Cheryl Smith Steury, and Mark Smith; and his nieces, Misty Steury, Lori Berroa, and Tori Poston, and his nephew, Ryan Smith.

Rob will be remembered for his deep faith, love of family, service to his country, enthusiasm for sports, and the kindness and joy he brought to those who knew him.

A funeral service celebrating Rob's life will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at First Baptist Church at The Fields, 1401 Carrollton Parkway, Carrollton, Texas 75010. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., with the service at 11:00 a.m.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 9:45 a.m. at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211.