Robert Lester Smith
July 14, 1925 ~ June 24, 2015 (age 89)
Robert Lester Smith was born July 14, 1925, in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Howard Garnett and Minnie Lester Smith. He died at his home in Lake Oswego, Oregon on June 24, 2015, just weeks short of his 90th birthday.
Bob and his twin brother, Joe, were raised in Seminole and Shawnee, Oklahoma, and both served in the US Navy in World War II, Bob in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Chester. After the war, Bob returned to Oklahoma to attend Oklahoma State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in botany. He later attended the University of California, Davis, where he received his Master’s degree in broccoli (horticulture).
While at OSU, Bob met the love of his life, Wanda Johnson, and was smitten, even though he was on a date with Wanda’s cousin. Bob and Wanda married August 12, 1948, and were the proud parents of three children: Robert David, Jaime Lea, and Richard Joseph. In 1956, Bob accepted a job as a county agent in Clackamas County and he and Wanda moved their growing young family to Oregon City.
Except for a stint at the Crown Zellerbach nursery, Bob spent his career as a county agent, advising and educating farmers about all manner of growing techniques, land use, and marketing practices. In 1965, Bob accepted a similar position in Sousse, Tunisia, and the family spent two years abroad. After that, Bob returned to Oregon, to the Dalles and then to Hillsboro, where he spent many years with the Oregon State Extension Service as a county agent for Washington and Multnomah Counties. Bob and Wanda returned to Tunisia for the last five years of their working life, during which time they traveled extensively. They retired in Lake Oswego in 1988.
In retirement, Bob and Wanda combined their commitment to serving others and love of travel by volunteering with Volunteers for Overseas Cooperative Assistance, traveling to and educating farmers in Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Albania, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Bolivia. Bob and Wanda were also long-time members of Rolling Hills Community Church, where Bob was active as a leader of his Sunday school class and a men’s Bible study group. He also participated for several years in a men’s caregiver support group, from which he gained support and encouragement, while continuing his usual habit of helping others.
Bob’s life was truly one of faith and service. His unwavering Christian faith guided all he did. He was kind, generous, and funny. His steady love, enthusiasm, and support for everybody he encountered were profound. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his family, friends, neighbors, and church community.
Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Wanda; his twin brother, Joe; and his children, David (Betty), Jaime (Brian), and Richard (Wiki). He also leaves behind six grand-children, six great-grandchildren, and two nieces.
A memorial service will be held at Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin on Friday, July 10th at 1:00 pm, with time to gather and visit afterward. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bob’s name to the Union Gospel Mission, Habitat for Humanity, or Mercy Corps.
***Last names of survivors have been omitted***
July 14, 1925 ~ June 24, 2015 (age 89)
Robert Lester Smith was born July 14, 1925, in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Howard Garnett and Minnie Lester Smith. He died at his home in Lake Oswego, Oregon on June 24, 2015, just weeks short of his 90th birthday.
Bob and his twin brother, Joe, were raised in Seminole and Shawnee, Oklahoma, and both served in the US Navy in World War II, Bob in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Chester. After the war, Bob returned to Oklahoma to attend Oklahoma State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in botany. He later attended the University of California, Davis, where he received his Master’s degree in broccoli (horticulture).
While at OSU, Bob met the love of his life, Wanda Johnson, and was smitten, even though he was on a date with Wanda’s cousin. Bob and Wanda married August 12, 1948, and were the proud parents of three children: Robert David, Jaime Lea, and Richard Joseph. In 1956, Bob accepted a job as a county agent in Clackamas County and he and Wanda moved their growing young family to Oregon City.
Except for a stint at the Crown Zellerbach nursery, Bob spent his career as a county agent, advising and educating farmers about all manner of growing techniques, land use, and marketing practices. In 1965, Bob accepted a similar position in Sousse, Tunisia, and the family spent two years abroad. After that, Bob returned to Oregon, to the Dalles and then to Hillsboro, where he spent many years with the Oregon State Extension Service as a county agent for Washington and Multnomah Counties. Bob and Wanda returned to Tunisia for the last five years of their working life, during which time they traveled extensively. They retired in Lake Oswego in 1988.
In retirement, Bob and Wanda combined their commitment to serving others and love of travel by volunteering with Volunteers for Overseas Cooperative Assistance, traveling to and educating farmers in Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Albania, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Bolivia. Bob and Wanda were also long-time members of Rolling Hills Community Church, where Bob was active as a leader of his Sunday school class and a men’s Bible study group. He also participated for several years in a men’s caregiver support group, from which he gained support and encouragement, while continuing his usual habit of helping others.
Bob’s life was truly one of faith and service. His unwavering Christian faith guided all he did. He was kind, generous, and funny. His steady love, enthusiasm, and support for everybody he encountered were profound. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his family, friends, neighbors, and church community.
Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Wanda; his twin brother, Joe; and his children, David (Betty), Jaime (Brian), and Richard (Wiki). He also leaves behind six grand-children, six great-grandchildren, and two nieces.
A memorial service will be held at Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin on Friday, July 10th at 1:00 pm, with time to gather and visit afterward. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bob’s name to the Union Gospel Mission, Habitat for Humanity, or Mercy Corps.
***Last names of survivors have been omitted***
Robert Lester Smith
July 14, 1925 ~ June 24, 2015 (age 89)
Robert Lester Smith was born July 14, 1925, in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Howard Garnett and Minnie Lester Smith. He died at his home in Lake Oswego, Oregon on June 24, 2015, just weeks short of his 90th birthday.
Bob and his twin brother, Joe, were raised in Seminole and Shawnee, Oklahoma, and both served in the US Navy in World War II, Bob in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Chester. After the war, Bob returned to Oklahoma to attend Oklahoma State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in botany. He later attended the University of California, Davis, where he received his Master’s degree in broccoli (horticulture).
While at OSU, Bob met the love of his life, Wanda Johnson, and was smitten, even though he was on a date with Wanda’s cousin. Bob and Wanda married August 12, 1948, and were the proud parents of three children: Robert David, Jaime Lea, and Richard Joseph. In 1956, Bob accepted a job as a county agent in Clackamas County and he and Wanda moved their growing young family to Oregon City.
Except for a stint at the Crown Zellerbach nursery, Bob spent his career as a county agent, advising and educating farmers about all manner of growing techniques, land use, and marketing practices. In 1965, Bob accepted a similar position in Sousse, Tunisia, and the family spent two years abroad. After that, Bob returned to Oregon, to the Dalles and then to Hillsboro, where he spent many years with the Oregon State Extension Service as a county agent for Washington and Multnomah Counties. Bob and Wanda returned to Tunisia for the last five years of their working life, during which time they traveled extensively. They retired in Lake Oswego in 1988.
In retirement, Bob and Wanda combined their commitment to serving others and love of travel by volunteering with Volunteers for Overseas Cooperative Assistance, traveling to and educating farmers in Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Albania, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Bolivia. Bob and Wanda were also long-time members of Rolling Hills Community Church, where Bob was active as a leader of his Sunday school class and a men’s Bible study group. He also participated for several years in a men’s caregiver support group, from which he gained support and encouragement, while continuing his usual habit of helping others.
Bob’s life was truly one of faith and service. His unwavering Christian faith guided all he did. He was kind, generous, and funny. His steady love, enthusiasm, and support for everybody he encountered were profound. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his family, friends, neighbors, and church community.
Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Wanda; his twin brother, Joe; and his children, David (Betty), Jaime (Brian), and Richard (Wiki). He also leaves behind six grand-children, six great-grandchildren, and two nieces.
A memorial service will be held at Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin on Friday, July 10th at 1:00 pm, with time to gather and visit afterward. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bob’s name to the Union Gospel Mission, Habitat for Humanity, or Mercy Corps.
***Last names of survivors have been omitted***
July 14, 1925 ~ June 24, 2015 (age 89)
Robert Lester Smith was born July 14, 1925, in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Howard Garnett and Minnie Lester Smith. He died at his home in Lake Oswego, Oregon on June 24, 2015, just weeks short of his 90th birthday.
Bob and his twin brother, Joe, were raised in Seminole and Shawnee, Oklahoma, and both served in the US Navy in World War II, Bob in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Chester. After the war, Bob returned to Oklahoma to attend Oklahoma State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in botany. He later attended the University of California, Davis, where he received his Master’s degree in broccoli (horticulture).
While at OSU, Bob met the love of his life, Wanda Johnson, and was smitten, even though he was on a date with Wanda’s cousin. Bob and Wanda married August 12, 1948, and were the proud parents of three children: Robert David, Jaime Lea, and Richard Joseph. In 1956, Bob accepted a job as a county agent in Clackamas County and he and Wanda moved their growing young family to Oregon City.
Except for a stint at the Crown Zellerbach nursery, Bob spent his career as a county agent, advising and educating farmers about all manner of growing techniques, land use, and marketing practices. In 1965, Bob accepted a similar position in Sousse, Tunisia, and the family spent two years abroad. After that, Bob returned to Oregon, to the Dalles and then to Hillsboro, where he spent many years with the Oregon State Extension Service as a county agent for Washington and Multnomah Counties. Bob and Wanda returned to Tunisia for the last five years of their working life, during which time they traveled extensively. They retired in Lake Oswego in 1988.
In retirement, Bob and Wanda combined their commitment to serving others and love of travel by volunteering with Volunteers for Overseas Cooperative Assistance, traveling to and educating farmers in Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Albania, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Bolivia. Bob and Wanda were also long-time members of Rolling Hills Community Church, where Bob was active as a leader of his Sunday school class and a men’s Bible study group. He also participated for several years in a men’s caregiver support group, from which he gained support and encouragement, while continuing his usual habit of helping others.
Bob’s life was truly one of faith and service. His unwavering Christian faith guided all he did. He was kind, generous, and funny. His steady love, enthusiasm, and support for everybody he encountered were profound. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his family, friends, neighbors, and church community.
Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Wanda; his twin brother, Joe; and his children, David (Betty), Jaime (Brian), and Richard (Wiki). He also leaves behind six grand-children, six great-grandchildren, and two nieces.
A memorial service will be held at Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin on Friday, July 10th at 1:00 pm, with time to gather and visit afterward. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bob’s name to the Union Gospel Mission, Habitat for Humanity, or Mercy Corps.
***Last names of survivors have been omitted***
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