Robert D. “Bob” Smyth

Robert Donal “Bob” Smyth, age 91, of Holt, MI, transitioned from the confines of our earthly world on April 3, 2018.  An area resident for 89 years, he was born in Gleason, Tennessee, and was a graduate of Holt High School and Michigan State University.

Bob was a veteran of World War II and served in the Pacific Theatre at Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He returned to Holt, Michigan and married the love of his life, Dee Crider.  He enrolled at Michigan State College in 1946, under the GI Bill, they moved into married housing and raised their little family. While attending college full-time, Bob also worked full-time, midnight shift, at Oldsmobile. He was a devoted Spartan, began attending football games at Spartan Stadium with his son in 1948, over the years many family trips were made following the Spartan Basketball team to NCAA tournament games starting in 1979. Bob attended his last basketball game at Breslin Center with his daughter in 2017. Bob was an avid golfer, he played on the “Niner’s Golf League” with son, Marc, from 1986 until 2016, capturing the league championship the last two years!  He also had three “Holes in One” during his golfing days! Bob was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he was kind, patient, admired, and respected by everyone he met, most especially by his children and grandchildren.  He was highly intelligent, a Stephen Hawking devotee, and could talk for hours relating the wonders of the Cosmos to anyone willing to listen. After graduation from MSC in 1951, Bob continued to work for Oldsmobile as a Quality Engineer. He retired from General Motors, after 53 1/2 years, in May 2000, which is considered to be the record for any GM employee. Bob was an adoring husband, in 2010, when his beloved Dee was stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease, and her condition required constant nursing care, he moved her into the Ingham County Care Facility. He spent every day with her, assisting her with lunch, and held her until she fell asleep each afternoon. He endured aging with great dignity and told his children that he wanted to “…live one day longer than Mom”. She died in December 2016, and now he has joined her.

Bob is survived by his loving family, son Steve (Mary) of Kila, MT; daughter, Eadie Harley of Holt; daughter, Sue Ellen Smyth-Scirocco (Tony) of San Pedro, CA; son, Marc of Lansing; eleven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends he considered family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy “Dee” Smyth; his parents, Hugh Donal and Christine Smyth; brothers, James and Hugh Smyth; sister, Malinda Smyth Haindel; and infant daughter, Gwen.

Family will receive visitors Tuesday, April 17, 2018 from 6-7:30 p.m. with a “Celebration of Bob’s Life” at 7:30 p.m. at the Estes-Leadley Holt/Delhi Chapel. Please come and share your memories of Bob with family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association or Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation at www.htohhfoundation.org would be appreciated. Online condolences may be left for his family at www.EstesLeadley.com.