Robert "Bobby" Smith

Robert “Bobby” Smith passed away peacefully on October 11, 2019 after a long journey through dementia.  He was 82 years old.

Bobby is survived by his daughters, Debra Smith and Leanne Moncrief; a son-in-law he loved as his own son, Lane Moncrief; granddaughters, Elizabeth Moncrief and Rachel Moncrief; a brother, Richard Smith; a sister, Beth Williams; several sisters- and brothers-in-law, and nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 38 years, Emily Lindsey Smith, his brothers Walter Smith, Jr., Reese Smith, William Smith, and his sister Frances Lanier.

Bobby was born on December 6, 1936 in Greene County, Georgia to Walter Smith, Sr. and Meda Strickland Smith.  After graduating from Greensboro High School in 1956, he joined the military and set out to see the world.  Bobby made a career of the Air Force and loved his life as an airman, serving in Europe, North Africa, Vietnam, and stateside. While home on leave in 1960, he was introduced by his sister Frances to her friend Emily “Chick” Lindsey.  On their first date, Bobby attended church with Chick, and they married three years later, in 1963. Chick happily accompanied Bobby wherever the Air Force sent him, their young daughters in tow.  After Chick was paralyzed in an accident, Bobby retired early to care for her, and he did so faithfully until she died in 2001.

Bobby loved exploring and wandering and trying every country-style buffet and barbecue restaurant he could find.  His favorite road was always the one he had never taken, and his favorite sights the ones he had never seen before.  He was always happy to share these adventures with whoever would come along, but his favorite travel companion was always his navigator and back-seat driver, Chick.  When his granddaughters were born, he took great joy in being “Papa” and tried his very best to spoil them.  Bobby was an animal lover and passed many happy hours observing the deer, wild turkey and other critters on his farm.  Later in life, his happiest times were spent on his tractor, piddlin’ around his property, or taking road trips with his cousins.  As his dementia progressed, Bobby was able to remain at home for a while, thanks to the loving care of Mary Rowland and Molly Porter.  In spring 2018, he was admitted to the Memory Support Unit at Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville, where he spent his remaining days among fellow service members.

Funeral service will be held at the McCommons Funeral Home chapel on Wednesday, October 16th, 2019 at 11:00. Burial with military honors to follow at Liberty United Methodist Church.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home an hour before the service.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or Alz.org or Georgia War Veterans Home.  McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of local arrangements.  Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert "Bobby" Smith, please visit our floral store.