Obituary of Bobby Smith

Bobby Miles Smith, 76, of Salem went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. He was born in Wythe County, Va. to the late George Charles and Mary Cletis Parris Smith. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother Jerry of West Chester, Pa.; sister Evelyn and her husband Tom Horton of Wythe County; and a granddaughter, Adora Sochor, of Catawba, Va. Surviving are his wife of nearly 55 years, Freda Pearl Moses Smith; daughter and son-in-law, Theresa and Eric Sochor; son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Cheryl Smith; grandchildren, Tommy Sochor, Caitlin and Connor Smith; brother, Herbert L. Smith of Wytheville; sisters-in-law, Juanita Smith, Phyllis Smith, Eila Jean Early and Billie Moses; brothers-in-law, Elvin Moses and Larry Early; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bobby moved to Salem, Va. at the age of 16 and began working in construction as a laborer working his way up through bricklaying and eventually attaining the position of Vice President/General Superintendent for Days Construction Company. Later, Bobby and Warren Gardner formed their own Gardner-Smith Construction Company. He retired on disability in 1992 due to poor health. Bobby was also a Gideon, a job he loved doing. Bobby was a long-time member and deacon of Mountain View Baptist Church in the beautiful Catawba Valley, a valley in which he loved to spend time hunting, farming, and just visiting with his many friends. Bobby was greatly loved by many, not only for his true love for them, but also for his playfullness. He will be missed by many. Flowers will be appreciated; however, donations in Bobby's memory may be made to the Building Fund at Mountain View Baptist Church in Catawba or Gideon's International are equally welcome. A celebration of his life (which he requested to be a time of joy and gladness) will be held 11 a.m. Friday, May 27, 2011 at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road with the Rev. Curtis Nester officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Simpson Funeral Home.