Robert Smith

Robert L. "Bob" Smith, 87, of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, March 6, 2016, at the Ratliff Care Center.

He was born May 17, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Marshall and Stella (Mann) Smith.

Bob and Violet Smith were married Dec. 5, 1951.

Bob was a graduate of Northeast High School in Kansas City and earned a doctorate in chemistry at the University of Missouri. He taught chemistry at Southeast Missouri State University for

28 years.

He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Violet of Cape Girardeau; six children, Bruce (Barbara) Smith of New Orleans, Brian (Christy) Smith of Grandview, Missouri, Nancy (Jim) Welty of Lenexa, Kansas, Donna Smith of Cape Girardeau, Carol Zikmund of New Orleans and Roseanne Smith of Oakland, California; a grandchild; three step-grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, William and Alan; and a sister, Betty Smith.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dr. Kim L. Nelson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Presbyterian Church.

Online condolences may be shared at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.