Robert was born on January 1, 1932, in Conrad Iowa. He was the third of five children born to Boyd Smith and Blanche (Strickler) Smith. He graduated from Conrad High school in 1951 where he played for the Trojans football and baseball teams. As a left handed pitcher he earned the nickname of Lefty. He was drafted in October of 1952. He served in combat as Corporal, US Army Second Infantry Division, in the Korean war. He returned to Marshalltown and served eight years in the Army Reserve. He married Georgia McGriff on December 5, 1954. Together they had four children. He attended carpentry school and was a carpenter throughout his life. He worked for Mueller Construction and Harrison Homes. In 1970, he and his brother Dale started Smith Brothers Construction, building hundreds of homes in the Marshalltown area. Georgia always did their book keeping.

He learned to fly and earned his pilot’s license March 1, 1957, courtesy of the G.I. bill. He always had a great love for anything connected with flying. He was active in the Presbyterian church where he served as deacon. He loved country music, enjoyed golf, fishing and especially bicycling. He and Georgia rode bikes together on many central Iowa trails. He remained an avid bicyclist well into his eighties riding sometimes twenty four miles to Melbourne and back. He had many other hobbies including rock hunting and polishing, decoupage, photography and developing photos, constructing wooden model cars, trucks, planes and puzzles. He was also a loyal Hawkeye fan.

He will be missed by his wife Georgia, his children: Christy Nelson (Mark), Robin Smith, Brian Smith (Insook), Megan Hudachek (Randy); granddaughter Harmony Schweitzer (Dan) and three great grandchildren, Stella, Marsali and David Schweitzer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Blanche and Boyd Smith, brothers Ernie Smith, Dale Smith (Esther), sisters Phyllis Jordan (Howard) and Joyce Ibsen (Joe).