Bobby Cain Smith passed away on Friday, November 3, 2017. Bob was born on May 1, 1931, to Bernice and Waylon Smith in Haleyville, Ala. He worked as a stock boy at the local five-and-dime when he was 12 years old and as a soda jerk in the local pharmacy while in high school. After graduating from Haleyville High School, he attended Auburn University, studying pharmacy. Bob served in the U.S. Army National Guard, including a tour in Korea, returning as a Sergeant First Class in 1951.
He married Ann Taylor, his childhood sweetheart, on December 20, 1951.
Bob graduated from Auburn University in 1954, began work as a pharmacist in Birmingham and then as a pharmaceutical sales rep for Eli Lilly. In 1964 he joined Gilchrist Pharmacy in Hartselle, becoming an owner in 1974 and treating his customers as his friends. He retired in 1999.
Bob and Ann were faithful members of the Hartselle Church of Christ, where he had served as an elder since November 1987. Bob enjoyed carpentry, woodcarving, gardening and cooking, and he was famous for his homemade cheesecake. He and Ann loved to travel, from New Zealand to Japan to Europe. He was a generous friend and a doting grandfather, making many sweet memories for his girls.
Bob is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ann; sons B.C. (Lydia) Smith, Hartselle, and Paul (Vicki) Smith, Brentwood, Tennessee; and granddaughters Allison Smith, Hartselle; Della (Derick) Hill, Beale Air Force Base, California; Claire Smith, Nashville; and Taylor (Alex) Clarke, Largo, Florida.
A celebration of his life will be at Hartselle Church of Christ at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, with visitation from 4 to 6 p.m.
