Robert Denton Smith, Born July 26,1927 Died September 9, 2019. Son of Jess Morses Smith and Palma Mable Peterson Smith, Sloan, Iowa and born at home. He was the last of eight children, Roy (died 3 month) Irene, Leora, LaVonne, Harriet, Margaret, Clara Jane. Bob lived most of his young life in VanBuren Indiana and Sloan Iowa. After graduating from Sloan High School in 1945, he proudly served as Boatswain Mate First Class on the US Navy USS San Jacinto CVL 30 AirCraft Carrier, a ship with a remarkable war record, including that George W Bush flew from it the day that he was shot down, and later became U. S. President #41. Bob was discharged in 1946. He then attended and graduated from Morningside College in 1949 with a degree in business and minor in psychology. He met the light of his life, his beloved wife Dorothy Dunn in 1948. They married October 14, 1950. Their nearly 69 years of marriage was full of faith, family, travel and the blessing of a committed and loving union. Bob is survived by his bride, Dotty, daughters Patti Roberts (Owen) and Sue McCown (Bo Maisano) and sons Jeff Smith (Jean) and Mike Smith (Mona). He has ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren whom he adored and celebrated their successes and uniquenesses.
Throughout his life he worked for HJ Heinz and later Anheuser Busch Brewing Co in San Francisco. In 1956 he was offered a sales job with Perlick Corp out of MIlwaukee. As a result, he started his company The Robert D. Smith Co Inc. in San Francisco and worked tirelessly to build a successful relationship with many representatives in the industry. He retired in 1996 after 40 years as a manufacturer's representative in the beverage dispensing, bar and restaurant equipment industry. All the years on commision, payment based on sales of product sold. The first contract done on a hand shake with Robert Perlick, founder and also a good friend of Bob’s for many years. Bob was a respected salesman and leaves a great legacy of being known for his direct approach, honesty, and expert knowledge of his industry, which he had direct influence on its development in its infancy.
Bob’s passions included, his devotion to the Catholic faith and all things sports, but not second to his loyalty and love for our great country, the United States of America.
A funeral Mass will be help at Holy Family Catholic Church in Modesto on September 20, 2019 at 10:00am. Internment will follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity that benefit our military veterans or Catholic Charities.
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