Robert Gene Smith

Robert Gene Smith, 91, of Tulsa, OK, passed from this life, surrounded by family, on March 11, 2024. Robert was born to Bratton G. Smith and Ruth E. Law on November 14, 1932, and grew up in Kingsbury, IN.

After graduating from high school, he was trained as a flight mechanic in the Air Force. While stationed in Amarillo, TX, he met a cute car hop at a local root beer stand. It was love at first sight and three weeks later, on November 3, 1953, he and Shirley Ann Weatherford eloped. They were happily married till her death in 2006 in Sidney, OH, where they had spent many of their retirement years. Also preceding him in death were his parents and his only brother, Bratton G. Smith, Jr.

Robert is survived by two children, Lynda (Smith) Newman (D. Eric), and Robert Scott Smith (Mindy). Also surviving are his 7 grandchildren: Julie Newman Vicena (Joshua), Joshua Smith (Sara), Benjamin Newman (Sarah), Kimberly Smith Hitzfield (Blake), Daniel Newman (Lauren), Jacob Smith (Courtney), and David Newman, as well as 23 great-grandchildren.

Robert and Shirley raised their children in Rolling Prairie, IN. He worked for the GoodYear Co., managing stores in the Indiana cities of LaPorte, Gary, and Rochester. He also owned the Culligan Dealership in Wabash, IN from 1977 to the mid-eighties.

But the job that was most dear to his heart, was working at White’s Residential and Family Services in Wabash, IN. For 15 years, he and his wife served as house parents to a dorm of 15 teenage girls needing a home away from home. Known as Pops to all the girls who passed through the doors of their cottage, he pointed them to Christ, mentored them, and loved unconditionally during a pivotal time in their lives. Pops retired in 1998 from Whites but talked about all his girls and celebrated their successes until the day he died.

Robert’s unwavering faith in his Heavenly Father was the foundation upon which he built his life. He loved studying and teaching from God’s Word and was faithful in prayer. He loved his family well and always looked at life through eyes of thankfulness. His family will miss his presence in their lives, but rest in the same assurance that he believed and proclaimed throughout his purposeful life… “It is well with my soul.”

A celebration of life service will be held on March 24,2024, at Adams Funeral Home, 1401 Fair Road in Sidney, OH, at 11am. Visitation will be available at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to White’s Residential and Family Services in Wabash, IN.

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