Rueben Roosevelt Smith was born January 28, 1933 in Carthage, Arkansas to Blancha Smith and Roosevelt Smith. He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized by Reverend Hayman, Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Later in life he joined St. Bartley Primetive Baptist Church (Huntsville, Alabama); The Great Commission Interdenominational Church and
Abundant Heart Community Church (Las Vegas, Nevada).
Rueben attended school at Carthage Elementary and Carthage High School. He graduated from High School in 1951. Shortly after graduating High School, he moved to Los Angeles, California. He was employed by Boeing Aerospace Company.
In 1952, Rueben was drafted into the United States Army. He attended Boot Camp in Camp Roberts, California. He fought in the Korean and Vietnam War. He was deployed to the Philippines, Paris, France and Munich, Germany. He was stationed in Trenton, Ohio; White Sands, New Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Redstone Arsenal United States Army Base in Huntsville, Alabama. Rueben served two years in the United States Air Force and twenty-eight years in the United States Army.
He met and married Maggie Tanner in Huntsville, Alabama. In this union, they had a daughter, Brenda Smith (Heard). He resided in Huntsville, Alabama until 1982 and retired from the military. Rueben then relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1991 he received an associate degree from the College of Southern Nevada (a.k.a. Clark County Community College). Rueben resided in Las Vegas until death.
Rueben Smith is preceded in death by his parents, Blancha Smith and Roosevelt Smith and one brother, Donald Smith. His special cousin preceded him in death Katie Sue Smith Ellis (November 2018). Rueben leaves to cherish his life: his daughter, Brenda Heard (Travis) of Buford, Georgia; Sisters, Mary Bell Hooks and Arlean Mayron Smith; and brothers, Clifford Eugene Smith (Vanessa), Alfreddie Smith and Vaughna Ray Smith; two grandchildren Travis Heard II (Jess) and Tamara Vorobey (Nick); four great grandchildren, Travis III, Leila Heard, Mia and Don Vorobey; nieces Nina Hooks-Bodnar, Kim McCoy, and Amaia McCoy; nephews Anthony Jenkins, Kent Smith, John Bodnar, Reverend Donald McCoy, Mai-Son McCurtis, and Elijah McCoy; and many cousins and friends.
Clifford and Arlean Smith enjoyed taking care of their brother (Rueben) throughout his journey of being ill. While holding his dear sister’s hand, Rueben’s last words were “I LOVE GOD”.
Bus Departure for Funeral/Graveside Service 9:30am at Nevada Partners Inc. 710 West Lake Mead Boulevard, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030, Phone : (702) 924-2100
