Roll Call Tribute

From tributes.com

Porter Loring Mortuary North
2102 North Loop 1604 East
San Antonio, TX 78232
plm-sa@porterloring.com
Tel. (210) 495-8221

Robert Lee "Bob" Smith
Born: February 13, 1928
Died: August 17, 2017
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Robert Lee ("Bob") Smith, a lifelong Texan, died peacefully on the evening of August 17 with loved ones at his side. He was 89.

Raised in McAllen, Texas, Smith developed an early love for the outdoors, becoming active in the Boy Scouts and ultimately rising to the level of Eagle Scout and Scout Master.

Scouting instilled in Smith a strong sense of character, leadership and self-discipline that would serve him well when he entered Texas A&M University in the Fall of 1945. In addition to excelling academically, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, B Battery Field Artillery, and Cadet Captain on the Artillery Battalion staff in his senior year.

Smith graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology in 1950. While he and his classmates for the most part went their separate ways, they somehow managed to forge a bond of friendship that would span the next 67 years, and together they shared all the joys that come with marriage, career success, parenting and grand parenting. The last "B Battery" reunion took place in 2017. While their dwindling ranks made reunions impractical, nothing could impact the bond that they shared or their unending love for Texas A&M.

Following graduation, Smith served honorably in the U.S. Army on active duty for two years during the Korean War. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and went on to retire as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Following graduation, Smith married Patricia Joyner, his college sweetheart and together they raised four children, each of whom would attend his beloved alma mater and each of whom would ultimately settle in Texas.

Smith's professional career began with Schlumberger Well Services, where he was a field engineer in Pharr, Texas. His skills and hard work allowed him to move rapidly through the ranks, and his technical expertise in the area of well log interpretation was well recognized within the industry. His work was published in technical journals and field service manuals and remains a recognized reference within the field of well log interpretation, which is an integral part of successful drilling operations. Smith went on to key leadership positions within multiple independent exploration companies including Cummins & Walker Oil Company as well as Barrett Brothers Oil and Gas.

To those who knew him, Robert L. Smith was simply "Bob", and he was larger than life. He was a successful businessman, cattle rancher and Texas oil man. He was a hunter and a marksman who loved and respected the land. He taught his children and grandchildren how to shake a hand and how to speak with authority and how to be confident. He even taught them how to whistle, how to shoot and how to laugh. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word, and was never known to raise his voice in anger or profanity. He was always the first to laugh, and he always seemed to see the best in people.

As a lifelong teacher and mentor, Smith managed to instill in his children and grandchildren a strong sense of character, a love of the outdoors and an unending passion for his beloved Aggies. Each of his four children attended Texas A&M. Until his health began to fail in the last two years, he was among the most faithful of Aggie football fans, having only missed a handful of home games since graduating. He thrived on the rich traditions of A&M and could be counted on to be there for everything from tailgate parties to Coaches Night to Aggie Muster. He proudly wore his Aggie Ring, and was there to place the ring on the hand of his granddaughter, 65 years (almost to the day) after he received his Aggie Ring.

Smith was preceded in death by his oldest son Robert Michael Smith. He leaves behind his loving wife Patricia, daughter Christine Cabiness & husband Todd Cabiness, grandson Bobby Vaden, great grandsons Joseph & William, daughter Rebecca Holmes & husband David, granddaughter Renee and grandson Thomas, son Timothy Smith & wife Amy, granddaughter Bailey and grandson Barrett.

The family asks that guests wear maroon to the service to have our own version of "maroon out" as an appropriate send off for Bob.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Colonel Robert L. Smith Commemorative Scholarship Fund at the San Antonio Area Foundation, 303 Pearl Parkway, Suite 114, San Antonio, 78215.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at Porter Loring Mortuary North. Graveside Service with full military honors will be held at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2017 in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Memorial Service will follow at Coker United Methodist Church at 11:30 a.m.


Visitation
Tuesday, August 22
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Add to Your Calendar

Porter Loring Mortuary North
2102 North Loop 1604 East
San Antonio, TX 78232
(210) 495-8221


Graveside Service
Wednesday, August 23
9:30 AM Add to Your Calendar

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
1520 Harry Wurzbach
San Antonio, TX 78209


Memorial Service
Wednesday, August 23
11:30 AM Add to Your Calendar

Coker United Methodist Church
231 E. North Loop Road
San Antonio, TX 78216