Robert Herbert Smith

Robert Herbert Smith was the son of Harold and Lucille Smith and the great-great-grandson of the founder of Whittier, Calif., Jonathan Bailey. He was born in Rosemead, Calif., Sept. 11, 1930; he left this world for a better place March 8, 2015. He was preceded in death by his son, Lynn Smith, and his wife of 36 years, Jeanne Louise Smith, who passed away two weeks ago to the day. He is survived by his only daughter, Lois Wenzek, of Freeland, and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bob, as he was known, assisted his father with his business at Rosemead Feed Company, a business that expanded to three locations. During WWII, at age 14, he got a special license to drive a delivery truck. Later he would use those skills to drive for Mt. Whitney Lumber for nine months, where he would haul logs, and later he drive long-hauls. In the early ’50s, he avoided the draft by joining the Navy. His main naval occupation was upon the USS Rendova, an aircraft carrier, where he had the job of operating the catapult, which launched planes from the ship. Much of his naval experience, 1950-54, was served in the waters off Korea. It was during this time he married Thelma Bailey, the mother of his two children. The marriage ended with a life-debilitating disease, which later ended in death for Thelma.

He attended high school at El Monte High but graduated from West Covina High, both in the Los Angeles area. After his military experience, he owned a gas station 1954-55. He drove truck line 1956-59, but in 1959, he moved with his family to Strathmore, Calif., in order to work with his father and manage citrus groves. He managed groves in Strathmore, Terra Bella, Ducor and Exeter, all in central California, between the years of 1959-1990, at which time he moved to Coos Bay, Ore. He loved to boat and got a commercial fishing license, which was mainly used for recreational experiences. While in Coos Bay, he and his wife, Jeanne, developed a number of lifelong friendships. They came to Whidbey Island briefly during the late 1990s but returned to Coos Bay. Once again in 2013, they proceeded to Whidbey Island to be with their daughter. They lived in the Mutiny Sands area until the last months of their lives, at which time they moved to the Double Bluff area in order to be close to Lois and Darrell.

He and his wife were both members of the South Whidbey Community Church, where their son-in-law serves as pastor. A graveside service is planned for Bob at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at the Langley Cemetery. He will be interred at a family plot next to his wife.