Robert "Bob" F. Smith

Robert “Bob” Franklin Smith, 87, of Toledo has passed away on August 2, 2022 at St. Charles-Mercy Hospital. He was born to the union of Jasper R. and Dorothy D. (Carter) Smith on December 16, 1934. Soon after his birth, his mother and father moved in Toledo.

Bob graduated from Raymer Grade School in 1948, went to Macomber Voc. High School. He was in the first freshman class at Macomber and was a member of the first 4-year class in 1952 in the mechanical drafting class. Bob joined the Navy reserves on February 1953. Bob went on to work at Western Electric Co., associated with Bell Telephone Co., at the Taylor Exchange Building, and Navarre and Parker Street installing telephone equipment. Later, Bob was promoted to installing several PBX units for several companies, such as The Sun Oil Co. and The Spicer.

During this time, he was asked to transfer to Chicago, Illinois, but could not due to his naval reserve commitment. Bob went on to work at Libbey Owens Glass Plant in Rossford, Ohio. After about a year at Libbey Owens, Bob had the opportunity to further his drafting abilities and go to school with Toledo Machine and Tool while in the reserves.

Bob was given his draft notice in 1957. The Army was not his choice, the reserves had no place for him at that time, so Bob joined the U.S. Air Force. While in the Air Force, Bob became a Weapons Mechanic. He would work with small arms and aircraft weapons such as 2.75 rockets, radar guided Gar Missiles, and MB—1Gent Nuclear. He was also Weapons Loading Supervisor. When Bob started a new life in the Air Force, he was also married to his first wife Ellen Beth Bollin. During this time, Beth gave birth to 3 children, Robert (“Rob”), Shari, and Kathy. Bob and Beth divorced in 1975.

After serving 4 years with the Air Force, Bob and his family came home to Toledo. Bob acquired a position as a Draftsman with Palmer and Associates. While at Palmer, Bob worked for a number of companies in and around Toledo. Owens Illinois Duraglas, Owens Illinois Forest Products, Surface Combustion, Jeep, Johns Manville, Davis Bessie Nuclear Power Plant, Textile Leather, Libbey Glass, Bartlet Collins Glass in Sapulpa Oklahoma for 5 years, and Glass Tech Solar. He would retire in 1999 and went to part-time security.

Bob married again in 1993 to Barbara Jean Szepesi Thomas and spent the rest of his life married to Barb. In October of 2002, Bob was told he had throat cancer. So from October to December once every Wednesday, he was fitted with a 24 hour chemo-pump. Starting in January, he would be given ½ hour of chemo and radiation treatment. He would lose his hair and saliva glands, ending up with dry mouth and throat and causing him to lose all his teeth. His hair did come back but not his teeth.

Surviving are his wife, Barbara J. Smith, children, Robert (Jill) Smith, Shari Smith, Kathy (Robert) Boss, six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and three stepchildren, Rick (Becky) Fodor, DeAnna (Mike) Long, and Brian (Kelly) Fodor.

Friends will be received in the Witzler-Shank-Walker Funeral Home 701 N. Main St. Walbridge, Ohio 43465 (419-666-3121) on Wednesday, August 10 from 11AM – 1PM with services starting at 1PM. Burial will follow at Lake Township Cemetery. Those planning expressions of sympathy are asked to consider American Cancer Society and Humane Ohio.