Robert Don Smith

 Robert “Bob” Smith passed away in the early morning hours of January 8, 2019 at the Charles George VA Medical Center, Valor Hospice Unit.  He was 89 years old and leaves behind his precious wife of 67 years, Jean Smith.
 
Born in Gaston County, the youngest of six siblings, he originally served in the Civil Air Patrol.  He then joined the Army “So he could eat more than one meal a day.”  Based in Japan at first, he was sent to fight in Korea for the duration of American involvement in the conflict there.
 
After military duty, he owned and operated Ideal Upholstery in Dallas, NC and was a faithful member of Plainview Baptist Church where he still has many dear friends.  In Asheville, Bob and Jean attended Abernethy UMC with their family.
 
In 2016, he and Jean relocated to West Asheville to reside in the home of their son, Don, and his wife Bonnie.  Bob was often seen riding around his Falconhurst neighborhood on his little red scooter, “Lars”, giving out his had-turned wooden pens or picking up roadside litter. He always proudly sported his “Korean Veteran” cap.
 
He never met a stranger and loved to tell stories and extol the virtues of the Charles George VA where he received excellent medical care while he lived here in the mountains.
 
The family would like to thank the entire VA staff,  Doctors and Nurses, schedulers and volunteers for the wonderful care given to Dad.
 
Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, January 17, 2019 in the chapel of the Western Carolina State Veteran’s Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC.

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