Robert (Bob) H. Smith, Jr., beloved father and grandfather, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2009. Born November 7, 1930, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Robert and Elizabeth Smith. Bob was the husband of the late Wanda Smith and is survived by his two daughters, Kathy Lambert and her husband, Dave, of Woodbridge, VA and Sabrina Lavender and her husband, Eric, of Oviedo, FL.  There are three grandchildren, Sean Lambert and his wife, Erin of Centreville, VA., Jennifer Lambert of Woodbridge, VA., Ariel Lavender of Oviedo, FL and his sister-in-law, Katherine Preston of Mt. Pleasant, SC.  

A celebration of Bob’s life for family and friends was held in the chapel of The Palms Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL.

Bob served in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1954 when he left to pursue his passion for radio and TV broadcasting.  Bob worked at numerous radio and TV stations between 1954 and 1962.  In June, 1962, Bob began a career at WCSC in Charleston.  He worked for WCSC for seventeen years before leaving in July, 1979, to take over as news director at NBC affiliate WCYB in Bristol, Virginia.  Bob was elected vice president and general manager of WYCB in October, 1984, and remained in that position until his retirement in December, 1991.  

During his career Bob served as president of the Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters, a member of the NBC Affiliate Advisory Board and on the board of directors of the Great Bristol Chamber of Commerce.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780 or to the Robert Smith Scholarship Fund at East Tennessee State University. Checks should be addressed to the ETSU University Foundation; University Foundation, P.O. Box 70721, East Tennessee University, Johnson City, TN  37614. (Please note on the check and letter that the contribution be deposited in the Robert Smith Scholarship Fund).

For either of the above charities, please include a note indicating your contribution is in memory of Robert Smith and the name and address of anyone who should receive an acknowledgment of your donation.

A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.