Cemetary in Southfield, MI. A private family service was held at the chapel.
Robert Kenneth Smith was born March 9, 1921 on a farm in the community of McDade, Texas to Robert
Whitworth Smith and Bertie Lee Hancock Smith. He graduated from Bastrop High School in Bastrop, TX
in 1938. He attended Southwest Texas State College and graduated 3 years later. In 1941, he joined the
Naval Aviation Cadet Program and spent 4 years in the Navy as an officer, flight instructor and Naval
aviator. He was stationed in Grosse Ile, MI where he met his wife of 55 Years. In 1945 he was released
to inactive duty from the Navy and began Graduate School at the University of Michigan. He was Plant
Manager at McGean Rohco in Livonia Michigan for many years, retiring in the late 80’s.
He resided in Detroit, MI, Birmingham, MI and Lake Orion, MI eventually moving back to Austin, TX in
September, 1999. He returned to Michigan in July 2017.
He had many hobbies and was amazing at all of them. They included, inventor, electronics, carpentry,
gardening, painting, whittling and playing the dulcimer (which he made several of, as well as violins).
He will be remembered by his daughter, Laurie D. Maass and son-in-law Craig A. Maass of Bloomfield
Hills, MI; his daughter Sherrie A. Williams of Waterford, MI; his 4 Grandchildren, Caroline Maass of East
Lansing, MI, Conner Williams of Waterford, MI, Kathryn Maass of Boston, MA and Parker Williams of
Waterford, MI. He is also survived by his sister, Bonnie Gibson of Austin, TX and numerous nieces and
nephews.
He is preceded in death by Dorothy Primeau Smith, his wife of 55 years; brother, Woodrow W. Smith of
Edna, TX; and sisters, Ruth Smith of Bastrop, TX, Amy Patton of Austin, TX and Gertrude Marsh of
Baytown, TX.
A special thank you to the staff at Autumn Ridge of Clarkston for the love and care that you gave him.
Mr. Smith was a very caring and giving man, donating his money, time and talents to several
organizations. In his memory, in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a charity of your choice.
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