Robert "Bobby" Charles Smith

Bobby Smith was my husband, best friend, and confidant. He was also a storyteller, entrepreneur, thrower of scandalous parties, and the only soul I know who was struck by a train and walked away. Twice. Bobby lived a good, and lucky, life.

On December 27, 1947, Robert Charles Smith was born in Winnsboro, Louisiana, to Lucille (née Barkley) and C.L. Smith. The youngest of four children — Carolyn Lynn, Columbus, and Judy — Bobby, naturally, claimed to be the smartest and best looking of the lot.

Bobby’s formal education began in the kitchen. With LSU football on the radio, Lucille schooled Bobby in the mysteries of the dark roux, the sanctity of the holy trinity, and the alchemy of spice. To Bobby, cooking was a sacrament and an expression of love. Spending a decade on the competitive BBQ circuit as “The Howling Coyote,” Bobby’s brisket placed 6th in the 2001 National Championship Barbecue Cook-off. While his brisket may have been good, I married him for his pork butt.

Bobby attended Winnsboro High School, where he played football, lettering his Freshman year. He also earned the Eagle Scout rank and membership in the Order of the Arrow.

After high school, Bobby attended Louisiana Tech University, where he met his future wife, Patricia Davidson. Two days after college graduation, Bobby was drafted into the US Army and was accepted into Officer Candidate School. Achieving Sargent’s rank, Bobby’s final assignment was with the 148th MP Company, Sixth United States Army, where he served as an armed escort transporting nuclear warheads and chemical weapons across the United States.

Returning home, Bobby and Pat married on March 11, 1972, and shared 34 beautiful years until her death on November 23, 2006. Bobby never stopped loving Pat.

Bobby and I married on July 4, 2008. He proposed five times before I acquiesced, which speaks volumes to his tenacity. Bobby encouraged me to be better and dream bigger than I thought possible. Not a day in our marriage passed that Bobby did not show me that I was loved.

During his professional career, Bobby was employed in sales by Mead Johnson, W.B. Saunders, and TRW Information Systems. He also worked for Texas Health Resources and American Airlines. Bobby retired from AA on June 18, 2020.

When he wasn’t cooking, Bobby loved spending time on the back porch with family and friends, listening to his classic rock, enjoying good wine, and savoring sunsets.

Bobby gracefully left this life on September 18, 2020, with his wife, his best friend, and six devoted dogs by his side.

Bobby will take his place with Pat at the DFW National Cemetery on November 30, 2020, where he will be laid to rest with military honors. As Bobby requested, bagpipes will be played. I selected “Going Home” for Bobby. “Sgt. McKenzie” will be played to honor those who served our country and with whom Bobby joins in eternal rest.

To all who showed up to his parties, he hoped you had a good time.

To those he loved, you will forever stay in his heart.