Bob Smith
Robert Lee Smith, age 87, died peacefully March 4, 2020, and is now soaring with the eagles he always loved. Robert was born Jan. 19, 1933, to Vernon Sidney and Leona May (Daniels) Smith in Holyoke.
Bob graduated from Phillips County High School in 1950 and later joined the United States Navy. He was stationed in Japan and Hawaii during the Korean War until he was honorably discharged in 1955 with a rank of YNT2. Bob returned to Holyoke and began working at the Holyoke co-op driving a fuel truck and worked his way up to co-op manager.
Bob married Twila Faye Bates on Oct. 14, 1956, in Wray. To this union were born three daughters: Shelly Rae, Karla Kay and Terri Lynn. They were divorced in 1978.
On May 12, 1979, Bob married Sharon Banjoff and gained a fourth daughter, Melody Michelle.
Bob and family moved to Springfield in 1980, where he managed the Springfield co-op for six years. He later managed the Syracuse, Kansas, co-op until he retired in 1995. Bob and Sharon moved to Sterling in 1995, where he resided until the time of his death.
Bob was a man of few words and high integrity. He was patriotic and loyal to family, friends and country. Bob treated others with kindness and generosity. He was a volunteer firefighter and a member of the Elks, American Legion and Lions Club. His hobbies included fishing, swimming, woodworking, crossword puzzles, bowling, dancing and writing poetry. He loved country music and anything western.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Leona Smith; his first wife, Twila Smith; brothers, Sidney Smith, Wendell Smith and wife Ramona, Stanton Smith and wife Dorothy, and Gerald Smith and wife Carolyn “Betty”; sisters, Catherine Smith, Lois Lakey and husband Bob, and Elizabeth Myer and husband Gerald; and half-sister, Audrey Aasgaard.
Bob is survived by his wife, Sharon; four daughters, Shelly and Pat Thompson of Goodland, Kansas, Karla and Alan Hassler of Kremmling, Terri Smith of Sharon Springs, Kansas, and Melody and Blake Peterson of Thornton; two sisters, Nancy and Walt Bradford of Wray and Patricia and Leonard Warren of Holyoke; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at later date. Bob will be laid to rest at the Riverside Cemetery Columbarium in Sterling.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to a favorite charity in his memory.
Chaney-Reager Funeral Home in Sterling is in charge of arrangements.