Robert Gainum Smith III
Robert Gainum Smith III
Obituary
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Robert Smith Obituary
Visitation will be 1-4 p.m. today at Greenview Funeral Home. The funeral will follow at 4 p.m. and burial will be in Walston Cemetery.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his father, Robert Gainum Smith Jr.; his grandparents, Robert Gainum Smith Sr., Ruth Poole Smith, Luther L. Whitten and Buelah Whitten. He is survived by his mother, Doris Whitten Smith; wife, Beverly Brown Smith; daughters, Kimberly Smith Davis (Sam) and Courtney Smith, of Birmingham; grandchildren, Peyton and Mason Davis, Taylor Smith; stepsons, Dustin Gooch, of Montevallo, Zack Gooch, of Nashville; brothers, Randall Lawrence Smith, Christopher Adam Smith (Sara); sister, Robin Smith Bowers; nephews, Christopher Adam Smith Jr. and William Nicholas Smith; and his faithful border collie, Willie.
Mr. Smith was a 1967 graduate of Coffee High School and a 1971 graduate of Florence State University, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees. He was a retired teacher and coach and taught at the following schools: Scottsboro High School, Sheffield High School, Wilson High School, Coffee High School, Forest Hills Middle School and Bradshaw High School. He enjoyed teaching young people and cared deeply for all of his students and players. As an avid outdoorsman, he was passionate about hunting and fishing and shared a love/hate relationship with the game of golf.
Mr. Smith was a founding member of the Hermitage Drive Hackers, Second Creek Fishing Fools and Pickwick Pickers. He enjoyed the association and friendship of many people and was loved and respected by those who knew him best.
Pallbearers will be Dewey Mitchell, Lake Tate III, Gary Horton, George Perkins, Dustin Gooch and Steve Whitten. Honorary pallbearers include Jeff Quillen, William Dillard, Don Huckaba, Jimmy Hartley, Robert Butterworth, Larry Danley, Wayne McNutt, Steve Hopkins, Greg Black and William "Cheese" Anderson.
A special thanks to Dr. Lyman Mitchell, Dr. Edsel Holden, Dr. A.K. Naidu and all of the staff and personnel at the ECM ICU.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Florence Public Library or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Birmingham. Arrangements by Greenview Funeral Home.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Rebecca Hill
October 3, 2010
Ganum was my first cousin, my father's dear friend, and one of the kindest, gentlest, most intelligent people I have ever known. He took me for pony rides and helped me catch my first fish at Lake Purdy. He helped me get through my father's death with his quiet, steady presence. I will always love him, always miss him, and always regret that I didn't bring my boys down there to see him. Now he is with my Daddy and his Daddy in heaven, with our Grandfather, and they are tuning out Mamaw and telling stories, and they are at peace.
Love you Ganum, always and forever.
Rebecca
Rachel Frazier-Motes
September 19, 2010
I was so sad to hear of your of your family's loss. Coach Smith was my all time favorite teacher at Forest Hills. He had the ability to turn History into story telling and from his class on (all the way through college) he made it my favorite subject! I will never forget my favorite teacher and i only wish you as family members could have seen the 70 something post on face book that we as his students posted on our favorite memories of our favorite teacher! May the Lord help you through this difficult time, in only the way that he can. Rachel Frazier Motes
Brenda Bray
September 17, 2010
Beverly and Family,
I am so sorry about the loss of Ganum. He was such a good person. I pray that the Lord will comfort and strengthen you at this time and in the days ahead.
God bless you, Brenda Bray
Flip Phillips
September 17, 2010
I was shocked to hear of Gainums passing. I will always remember him as a tremendous athlete and a very nice guy to all of us that were younger than him.He was always a positive person. The Smith family has my sincere condolences.
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Tracy
September 16, 2010
I am so sorry for your loss Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Beverly I know you and Ganum were blessed to have found each other again and shared such a strong love. I am deeply sorry.
Amanda Sharp
September 15, 2010
I was so shocked and saddened to hear about Ganum. What an amazing human being he was. The tributes on this page from his former students speaks volumes about the kind of person he was. My heart goes out to his family. He was very special and we are all the better for having known him. My prayers are with you in this difficult time.
September 14, 2010
Mr.Smith was such a great teacher at Forest Hills, he always made Social Studies interesting and so much fun,So sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time of sorrow.
Kristi Nix Sockwell
Joe Elmore
September 14, 2010
Ganum was one of my all time favorite athletes that I coached when I was at UNA. you have my sincere condolences. I will always have great memories.
Katie Sims
September 14, 2010
Coach. Smith was a great teacher. I have alot of great memories of Coach Smith , I am so sorry for your loss he was a very special person
Debbie Danley Camp
September 13, 2010
As Larry Danley's little sister, I was treated growing up with Ganum being in our home in Tuscumbia a lot. He was always so much fun. My thoughts are with the Smith family and I will keep you close to my heart.
Greg Stafford
September 13, 2010
Beverly, Mama Doris, Randy, Robin, Chris and the rest of the family. I had the pleasure of seeing Ganum a couple of weeks ago at the CHS football reunion. He was always a hero to me and I loved him (and Randy) like a brother. I am so sorry he is gone, he will always be missed, but you can be assured that he touched many lives and he will not be forgotten.
Bart Tate Jr.
September 13, 2010
I was lucky enough to have been a student of and played for Coach Smith at Bradshaw. So many great memories on the field and in the classroom and as a friend of the family he will be missed dearly.
Lois (Muns) Lefebvre
September 12, 2010
To the Family Of Gainum Smith,
It is with great sadness to hear of Gainum's passing.
As a former Classmate it is always hard to hear that one is gone.
I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to the Family.
May god Bless and be with you all.
Tony Brocato
September 12, 2010
I have not seen Coach Smith in many years but he was part of those rare moments in my life that I will never forget. When I was in my junior year at Sheffield High School Coach Smith was one of my teachers. He was one of those cool teacher coaches that everybody liked. Back then I was really into fishing. We got to talking after class one day about fishing. I was probably bragging about the fishing boat that I had gotten. It was not much of a boat but I was proud of it. To my surprise he told me he'd like me to take him fishing. I was really fired up about this cool teacher going fishing with me. We were on the lake in this very early morning in March of 1978. For hours it was good conversation but absolutely no action at all from the fish. It was close to about 9:00 when things turned a lot more intense. I know exactly where on Wilson Lake it was and the bait I was using. I set the hook on a fish that started tugging back on the line a lot more than I was ever expecting. I was in the front of the boat and Coach Smith was messing with his bait or something in the back. I started getting excited and stood up to fight the fish. I remember asking the coach to get the net. (The net is used to keep the fish from falling off the hook while lifting it into the boat). About that time the big bass got within my sight. My eyes and mouth were probably both wide open. But the coach was just acting like it was no big deal and was not getting the net near as fast as I thought he should. Then I excitedly said without thinking "Coach! Get the d#$@ net!" I didn't curse much then (or now) and I had definitely not cursed in front of any teacher or coach before. He just laughed and said something like "take it easy, we'll get him". Finally, with him grinning and my heart pounding we got the 6 pound 4 ounce largemouth into the boat. There are a lot of other bass caught that are larger but none caught by me. I'm not allowed to hang the mounted fish in the house but it's proudly displayed in my garage today. I won't forget you Coach Smith nor will I ever forget that awesome day we shared.
September 12, 2010
To the family of Gainum Smith... I would like to offer my sincere condolences on the loss of a wonderful Coach, teacher, and friend. I was in his class at Forest Hills Middle School in 1988 and will always remember his laughter. You are all in my thoughts and prayers, and he will be missed. Donna Skipworth Ream
Mike Stafford
September 12, 2010
To Beverly, the Smiths and Ganum's many friends- I was shocked and saddened to hear about Ganum's death. He was a great guy, a great teammate and a great teacher! My brother Greg attended the Coffee Football reunion on August 28th and so enjoyed spending time again with Ganum and the other guys. I'm even more sorry now that I couldn't be there and have one more conversation with Ganum Smith. He will be missed.
Best to all,
September 12, 2010
Dear Randy and Beverly and family, I'm so sorry for the loss of Ganum. He was the perfect gentleman and a heck of an athlete and such a nice guy....Charlie Bowling
bill hogue
September 12, 2010
I coached at Bradshaw for two years with Coach Smith and he grew up with my father. My father is on Cincinatti and unable to come. On behalf of him I want to offer our condolensces. My dad loved him very much. My family shares in your loss.
Kathy Waitzman
September 12, 2010
hello dear beverly. my love, thoughts and prayers to you and your family. from the great white north, you are thought of ... love & peace to you. kathy haddock waitzman
William Lindsey
September 11, 2010
I have known Ganum from 1st grade at Harlan Elementary through graduation at Coffee and since through the years. He was a great athlete and a good friend. He is irreplaceable. I can't come in for his service and visitation and I will miss seeing his many friends and his loving family. We share a great loss with his passing. My sympathies go to you all.
September 11, 2010
Beverly, I have so many happy and fun memories of Ganum. He was always and inspiration to me. He loved coaching and teaching young people. When we were at Sheffield High in the 70's I could not have made it without him. I know how much he cared for you and Deb and I wanted you to know we are thinking about you today. Robert Butterworth, Montevallo, Al.
Bill Hogue
September 11, 2010
Ganum, the world is not going to be the same without you. I was blessed with your friendship since 2nd grade. Now I am blessed with memories of you. Beverly, Randy, Chris, and Robin, Mrs. Smith, my heart goes out to you. We will light a candle at Church for Ganum tomorrow. God bless you all. God bless Ganum.
September 11, 2010
Beverly, I am so sorry about Ganum. There are no right words to say. All the wonderful memories will keep you strong and steady. If I can ever do anything to help you, please let me know. Judy White Struzick
Susan (Hall) McCord
September 11, 2010
Beverly, i am so saddened for your loss. Please know in the days ahead, that your family will be in my prayers.
Wendy Joyce Cabler
September 11, 2010
I am so DEEPLY grateful to have been lucky enough to have Ganum as my 8th grade Social Studies teacher at Forest Hills. He was a *MARVELOUS* teacher and I will never forget him - or the U.S. Presidents, the states and their capitals, and lots of other things.
I have always counted him as one of my top 5 teachers, and I pray that his family celebrate in the wonderful things his life brought to others; and not dwell in the enormous sadness I know they are experiencing. I, too, felt a bright star had gone dim in this world until I remembered how much he made us laugh. He was one of the people who inspired me to become a teacher, myself. I know he inspired many, many others too so I know his light still shines.
Smoky Holland
September 11, 2010
To Ganum's Mom and family. May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. I had several classes with Ganum at Coffee. A quote from my year book that he wrote was " Always remember all the paper wad battles in speech class". He was a great friend and One of the Good Guys! He will be missed by all the many friends he had at Coffee High. God bless you and your family.
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