Robert Edward “Bob” Smith, Jr., 83, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away after a short illness on January 5th surrounded by loved ones.
Born on April 12, 1942, in Nashville, Tennessee, Robert was the son of Robert Edward Smith and Flaudie Myrtle Clark. As an only child, “Bobby” spent his younger years building model planes and cars, taking things apart and putting them back together, and tinkering in the garage with his dad. He graduated from Isaac Litton High School in 1960 with his sights set on earning an electrical engineering degree at Tennessee Tech University. While there, he interned with the National Aeronautical and Space Administration and graduated in 1965 with an electrical engineering degree. Bob was hired by NASA shortly afterward and spent 35 years at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration working as a systems engineer or project manager on Saturn V Apollo missions, Skylab, Spacelab, and the Hubble Telescope. Bob was known fondly by his coworkers for his mentorship and dedication.
Bob enjoyed camping, traveling, sailing, and riding motorcycles, and developed a love of dogs. His childhood interest in automobiles manifested itself later as a true love of building and admiring street rods and restoring classic cars and trucks. Until his last days, he enjoyed hot coffee, cold beer, and starting new projects (including a model airplane that is currently on his kitchen table, in parts…)
He is survived by his longtime partner, Dr. Victoria Vest; daughter, Jennifer Perryman (Rodney); son, Kenneth Smith (Jennifer); and grandchildren, Jacob Perryman, Addison Smith, Adam Smith, Benjamin Smith, and Isla Smith; his partner’s children, Katie Vest (Mick Robbins) and James Vest (Katie); and partner’s grandchildren, Addaleigh and Isabelle Vest.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Monte Sano United Methodist Church in Huntsville, AL on Saturday, March 7th at 11:00 a.m. with visitation preceding at 10:00 a.m. and a potluck lunch afterwards in the fellowship hall.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation to either Monte Sano Village or St. Jude Children’s Hospital be considered.
