Robert Smith

Robert D. Smith a.k.a "Smitty," beloved husband and father, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep on Friday, May 20, 2016. 

He was born on November 5, 1946 to parents Wilbur Smith and Edna Huber of Farmersville, New York. He raced Stock Car 88 at Bradford Speedway in Bradford, Pennsylvania. He built and operated Freedom Speedway in Freedom, New York. He worked as a tool & die maker and in research & development for Fisher Price Toys. He co-founded Heartland Tool & Die in Murray, Kentucky. He created valves utilized on spacesuits for NASA's Apollo mission series. At the time of his passing he was retired and cared for homeless animals. 

He met his wife, Beverly D. Smith, in New York and married July 29, 1978. They were happily married for 37 years until his passing. He was a loving, supportive and proud father to his daughter, Jessica Smith Brotzge, (married to Matthew Brotzge), of Louisville, Kentucky; his son, Jason Smith, (married to Cesia Montoya Smith), of Naples, Florida and his son, Sean Smith, of New York, New York. He is survived by his wife and children, his sister Arletta Slocum and her husband Keith Slocum and his grandchildren Olivia Wren Brotzge, McKayla Lisette Smith, Kensley Marie Smith, Maria Gissel Smith and Marvin Jafeth Smith. His life was a blessing, his memory a treasure, He is loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure. 

Visitation will be held at Imes Funeral Home and Crematory, 311 N. Fourth Street, Murray, Kentucky on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm, with a memorial service to follow thereafter. Donations of sympathy can be made to The Arrow Fund of Louisville Kentucky, which cares for abused and neglected animals, (thearrowfund.org).