Robert C. Smith Celebration of Life

Robert C. Smith | Life History Statement

Robert Cochran Smith was born in Clinton, Arkansas on March 11, 1940, to Arthur Joseph Smith and Mary Eunice Nixon Smith. He was the second surviving child next to his older sister, LaDonna. In 1947, Joe Smith moved his family to the Northwest, which was his birthplace. They lived for a time in The Dalles, Oregon, where LaDonna and Robert attended the Joseph G. Wilson elementary school.

Later, they settled on 80 acres in Appleton, Washington, built a log cabin, dug a well and set up a sawmill. Robert grew up working on anything and everything that pertained to country life, and by 1957, at the age of 17, had become the head sawyer at a sawmill owned by Ray Griffis. The knowledge that he learned from Ray, and the experience gained, was invaluable, and enabled him to successfully set up several of his own sawmills over the course of his life.

Later in the year of 1957, most of the family moved back to Arkansas, where Robert worked at various jobs to help support the growing family. In 1962, Robert received a draft notice from the U.S. Army, but opted to enlist into the Air Force instead. This choice brought him to Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas, for basic training. When he was finally able to leave the base on weekends, he attended a Foursquare church, where he quickly noticed a pretty young lady playing the organ.

As Robert began considering the life choices that were before him, a unique opportunity presented itself. The U.S. Air Force was conducting a dietary experiment for the Gemini space project, and needed volunteers. As an incentive, every volunteer would be moved to the top of the list for the technical school of their choosing. Robert volunteered and chose the longest tech school available.

The Gemini space project diet ultimately cured a liver ailment that had plagued him, his entire life, and trained him in the field of electronics, creating a new career path. The only down side, was confinement to the base, which meant that correspondence with the pretty young organist, would be largely through the mail. Despite their separation, a wonderful relationship began to develop between Robert and JennalLee Shulze.

After his training, Robert spent the rest of his enlistment as an electronics technician working primarily on the all new IBM FSQ-7 computer which monitored air traffic. Two identical computers, consisting of 100,000 vacuum tubes each, were housed in a 3 story building, which required 60 technicians to locate and replace the failed tubes and memory circuit boards each day. While most of the technicians simply replaced the faulty circuit boards, one ranking member had the skill and patience to diagnose and repair the faulty board.

One day however, a circuit board that would fail inconsistently and then pass all diagnostic tests, was finally labeled “Irreparable” and set aside. A young airman, who had come to be known as “Smitty” took the board, and after a great deal of troubleshooting and thinking, diagnosed the elusive problem, and repaired it. This act of aptitude and tenacity earned him a letter of commendation from the President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson.

On October 4, 1963, Robert and JennalLee were married and were transferred to Biloxi, Mississippi. Later, The U.S. Air Force transferred them again to Battle Creek, Michigan, where they lived until Robert received his Honorable discharge in 1966.

Robert and Jennie, as she preferred to be called, then moved to Arkansas, where she fell in love with the 'foothills of the Ozarks' and the people who lived there. In December of 1967, their first child was born, and was given his father's name; Robert C. Smith Jr.

In 1968, Robert and Jennie were lured to Seattle during a boom in the construction business, but after selling most of the land they had purchased and moving to the Northwest, they were convinced that they were out of God's plan. They quickly relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, where Jennie's sister lived, and started over. Robert went to work for a hydraulic hose fitting manufacturer, and became a machinist; another skill that would benefit him the rest of his life.

Another family move brought them to Arlington, Texas, where their second child, James August, was born September of 1972. The next move, in 1974, brought them to Lewisville, Texas, where Robert Jr., who was always called 'Bobby', entered the first grade.

During these years, Robert worked for Otis Engineering and Dresser Industries as an NC Electronics Tech while Jennie stayed home to raise the children. These were good and prosperous times. They found a wonderful church family, Robert began flight training, and ultimately earned his private pilot's license, commercial, multi-engine and IFR ratings. He was constantly learning and building.

Though life was good, there was a growing desire to return to the land that they owned in north central Arkansas. Finally in August of 1976, they moved for what they hoped would be the last time. They were going home!

Robert drilled a well, built a shop and situated their single wide trailer into the woods of Crabtree, Arkansas. He opened his machine shop for business, and the next year, built a sawmill. It was refreshing to once again become involved in the little Foursquare church that Robert had attended as a boy, and where Bobby had been dedicated as an infant. But in the summer of 1978, a missionary, named Eddie Griffith, came to speak at the Crabtree Foursquare church. Brother Griffith had a strong prophetic gift, and called Robert and Jennie forward at the end of his message. The word of the Lord to them was, “I see a move ahead of you. I see you living in a white house on a hill...” Hoping this prophetic word was for the distant future, Robert and his family put it in the back of their minds.

But within weeks, an unexpected and miraculous succession of intersection points and connections were made that revealed God's leading, beyond any doubt. By the following spring, Robert and his family had sold their place in Crabtree, moved 135 miles away to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, purchased 30 acres and had their sons enrolled in Evangel Christian Academy.

Robert was unknown in this area, so the process of starting over was a bit slow. He set up his machine and fabrication shop, which had always been blessed, and went to work. Later he set up a sawmill for a short time before building a sand and gravel business on the creek bottom of their property.

Through the years, Robert and Jennie had always been heavily involved in the churches they attended, teaching various classes, playing the piano, and helping with church building projects. They prioritized faithfulness to the house of God, and instilled that trait into their children.

During the years in Hot Springs, Robert became established as a mechanic, machinist, designer, and fabricator. He was the man who could do the job, when no one else could. He did many projects for the city of Hot Springs water works, Reynolds Aluminum, and Alcoa.

In early 1987, Robert began sensing the Spirit of God directing him to move the family to Washington; an idea that some of the other members did not share. But, in September of 1988, a small caravan pulled out and headed for the Northwest. Robert's brothers, David and Dan traveled to Arkansas to help with the final loading and share driving duties between two semi-truck and trailer rigs, a one ton truck and trailer, and the family car; all loaded to capacity.

Upon arrival in Appleton, everything was moved into Joe and Eunice's spacious house, and preliminary work began on the Hylton house that had been offered by Blair and Dorothy Shippey, who were long-time friends of the Smith family. But on December 8, 1988, Joe and Eunice's house caught fire and burned to the ground. In spite of tragedies and set backs, the plan of God became increasingly clear; the Robert Smith family was meant to be here.

Over the next 37 years, Robert built a machine and fabrication shop, worked for a time at the Underwood Fruit Warehouse in Bingen, Washington, and set up another...yes, you guessed it, sawmill. In October of 2000, he laid his beloved Jennie to rest, and later married Margaret Miller, who proved to be a wonderful blessing from God! In 2023, after 22 years of marriage, Margaret went home to be with the Lord.

Robert continued to work toward his dreams and plans, even though his body was slowing down.

On April 9, 2026, his sons sensed that his departure was imminent, and gathered with him that evening for what they knew was 'Good-bye”. After a meaningful visit and several “I love you's”, Robert went to bed. At approximately 9:10 the next morning, He departed this life and entered the presence of the Lord; joining those who had gone before.

Robert was preceded in death by two older siblings, his younger brothers Arthur, Dan and David, his parents Joe and Eunice Smith, and his wives Jennie and Margaret. He is survived by his sons, Robert Jr., and James A. Smith, Rebekka, Jenny, Jonathan and Joseph, as well as brothers, Ben and Sam; and sisters, LaDonna, Lola, Grace, Sue, Ellen and Debbie.