Robert Wayne Smith

Robert Wayne Smith was born on our country’s Independence Day, July 4th, 1939, in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana. He always joked that the whole country celebrated his birthday with fireworks. He was a good son to Howard Arnold Smith (1908-1979) and Iris Elizabeth Acker (1909-1977) as the youngest of their four children (two girls and two boys). Bob was known to be a very hard worker and loved spending time with his family. His younger school days were spent in Ft. Wayne, Indiana where he enjoyed all sports, especially football. He also liked photography, he bought his first camera at age 13 and was his school’s photographer. He graduated from Central High School in 1957. He attended Brigham Young University (BYU), where he started dating Judith ‘Judi’ Carol Willis (1937-2013). Her brother, Kent, was Dad’s roommate. They were married on 5 June 1959 in the Salt Lake Temple (Salt Lake County, Utah).

Judi supported Bob as they began raising a family. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree at BYU in Visual Arts in 1961. They moved to Ft. Wayne after graduation, waiting to be accepted to a Master’s program at Indiana University. Once accepted, they moved to Martinsville, Indiana.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wherever he lived, serving his fellow men in many different positions: He was called as a Branch President at age 24, in Martinsville; served as a member of the bishopric in Columbus, Ohio; served as Bishop in Cincinnati, Ohio; a member of the stake presidency in Dayton, Ohio; and then again as Branch President of the inner city branch in Dayton, Ohio. He served in many other callings throughout his life.

His main occupation over the years was as a photographer/videographer and had his own dark room. His favorite subjects to photograph were people, especially friends and family. He worked for Cummins Engine Co. (Columbus, Indiana), then C-Tech (Cincinnati, Ohio), and then for EF McDonald (Dayton, Ohio). Bob also liked to buy homes/properties, fix them up with his son, Rob, then flip them for a profit or manage them as rental properties. Bob was also a teacher at Thomas Moore College in Ohio. In their later years, they lived in St. George where he was in newspaper circulation, then moved back to Dayton. After Judi’s death, he moved to Ogden, Utah, to be closer to his children and grandchildren.

Bob enjoyed sports, and when he was a young adult, played on their ward softball team. He also organized a ward basketball team. He was an avid fan of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team (even meeting some of the famous players) and watched select sports on T.V., especially his alma mater, Brigham Young University. He liked to collect coins and obtained a nice collection.

Bob will be missed dearly by his family: Marcy (Tim) Coles – West Haven Ogden, UT; Erin (Scott) Roudabush – American Fork, UT; Rob Smith – Provo, UT; and Shannon (Randy) Worrell – Holbrook, ID; with 18 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Judi; his parents, Iris and Howard; and siblings: JoAnn (James Richard) Trammel, Barbara Jean Smith, and Richard (Sharon Kay) Smith.

We know his spirit dwells in Paradise, a place of peace and rest from his earthly pain, cares and sorrow. Bob will be buried next to Mom in the Snowville Cemetery (Box Elder, Utah).

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at Noon with a viewing held prior from 11-11:45 A.M. All services will be held at the Holbrook LDS Church (100 N 100 W- Holbrook, ID). Interment will take place in the Snowville Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed and may be accessed below.

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT PAN THE CROWD AND THE CAMERA IS FIXED UPON THE PULPIT. WE WILL TRY AND LIVESTREAM THE FUNERAL SERVICE. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO DO SO, DUE TO THE INTERNET SERVICE AT THE CHURCH, A RECORDING WILL BE UPLOADED WITHIN 24-48 HOURS AFTER THE SERVICE.