Robert E. Smith

Mr. Smith, 79, a native of Gaffney, SC passed away Thursday, February 19, 2009 at Hospice of Cleveland County. Robert retired from the City of Shelby where he was a supervisor in the electrical department. He was a member of Northside Baptist Church where he was a former deacon. He was a member of the Board of Directors for Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department where he had served as Assistant Chief and was Chief from 1981 = 1987. He was a member of the Cleveland County Firefighters Assn. and a former member of the North Carolina State Fireman's Assn. Robert had also seved as a volunteer fireman for the Shelby Fire Department. Robet was preceeded in death by his parents Floyd Lyle Smith & Mary Jenkins Smith, his wife Fannie Hardin Smith, son's Robert E. Smith Jr. & Lyle "Eddie" Smith, one brother and two sisters. Robert is survived by a son and his wife Kenny & Kathy Smith, two daughters Janet Tallent, and Carol Costner and husband Steve all of Shelby. He is also survived by a brother Tommy Smith, sisters Evelyn Blanton and Inez Byers all of Gaffney, SC. He is also survived by a daughter-in-law Debbie Smith of Shelby. Robert has 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews in the Gaffney area. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Stanley Webb and Rev. Neil Efird. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150 or Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department, 221 E. Graham Street, Shelby, NC 28150.