Robert “Bob” Gerald Smith lost his battle with brain cancer on June 4, 2016, in Kennewick, Washington. He was 77.

Bob was born Sept. 15, 1938, to James David and Olive Henrietta Smith in Huston, Idaho. He lived there until the age of 13, when his parents moved to Hermiston, Oregon. He graduated from Hermiston High School and then joined the Marines.

When he returned he married Charlotte Gilkey and moved to The Dalles, Oregon. He worked for Harvey’s Aluminum Plant. He and Charlotte had their only son, Daniel. Bob fell off a ladder picking cherries, broke his foot and was no longer able to work at the plant. He then moved to Idaho to work at the Dworshak Dam. When the dam was finished, they moved back to Hermiston. At this time he and Charlotte divorced.

Bob worked in Hermiston as a production worker for Johns Manville PVC pipe until retirement.

He met Joann Vickhammer at Smitty’s Pancake House, fell in love and they were married in September 1980.

Bob enjoyed Western novels, especially Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey. He was handy in his shop and enjoyed woodwork.

He is survived by his son, Daniel Smith, and his wife, Brenda, of Portland; his brother and wife, Don and Norma Smith, of Weiser, Idaho; sister, Retta Ulson of Hermiston; brother, Mike Smith, and his wife, Sara, of Hermiston; sister, Sandy Storz, and her husband, Marvin, of Echo, Oregon, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, James and Olive Smith; and brothers, James A. Smith and Ted Smith. His wife Joann passed 28 days after Bob passed.

Graveside services for Bob and Joann are set for 11 a.m. Saturday, July 16, at the C.E. Memorial Conrad Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Vickhammer home in Evergreen.