Robert Lee Smith

Robert Lee Smith, 85, died in Richland, Washington on May 14th, 2017 of lung cancer and kidney failure.  Robert was born in Cherryvale, Kansas on October 22nd, 1931, to Olney Harris Smith and wife Lila Eulalia (Buckley) Smith.  Bob was the youngest of four children: sisters Eulalia, Jacque, and brother, Harry.   

Bob graduated from Pittsburg High school in Pittsburg, Kansas in 1950 and began working at a local manufacturing company.  While employed there he joined the Kansas National Guard, and was called into active duty at Fort Lewis, Washington in 1951.  In 1953 he was honorably discharged from the Army and began his Hanford employment (G.E.) which would primarily involve Health Physics-oriented positions until his retirement from Westinghouse Hanford in 1990.  Bob enjoyed his career and made contributions to his chosen field as an active participant in various professional associations as an educator at Columbia Basin College, and as a member of the B Reactor Museum Association. 

Bob met Viola Mae Hummel at a Richland Recreation Hall dance in 1953 and they were married on May 8, 1954 at Central United Protestant Church in Richland.  Their daughter Vicki, was born in 1955 and sons Steve, Randy, and Brian were born in 1957, 1959, and 1966.  

Bob is survived by Viola, his wife of 63 years, and his four children:  Vicki Sippel, Steve (Kristy), Randy (Diane), and Brian. He is also survived by Vicki's children, Chad and Ashley (Jon) and their children, JD, Noah and Mia; Steve's children, Kaley (Joel), their son Rhodes, and Ben (Sophia); Randy's sons, Cary (Katherine) and Lindsey (Kim) and their daughter Sadie; Brian's twin daughters, Jordan and Tatum.

A memorial service will be held at Central United Protestant Church at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 19th.

The family would like to thank Doctors Wadhwa, Tandon, Suerro, and Patel for their care of Bob.