Rev. Gene Smith

Robert Eugene Smith "Gene"
October 30, 1938 - January 2, 2023
Robert Eugene Smith was born on October 30, 1938, in Stuart, Oklahoma to the late Bud and Lucille Smith. Surrounded by his family, he peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 2, 2023, at the age of 84.
Gene was born on 10 acres of land owned by his parents and the same land his father was born on in 1910. When he was two years old, his family moved to California. Gene attended elementary school, junior high, and high school in the city of Selma, graduating from Selma High in 1957. At that time, he began working for Standard Oil.
Gene met his future wife, Sharon Freeman, when she moved in next door to his family in 1953. On December 13, 1958, they got married and later had three daughters, Trecia, Tammy and Tonya. Gene went on to work in service stations, later running his own, and eventually owning his own towing business. In the mid to late '70s, he sold cars at Liberty Chevrolet, worked for Russ Noble at his men's clothing store, and worked as a janitor for Jack Wright at Safeway in Visalia. In the late '90's and early 2000's, he worked for Page Funeral Chapel, now known as Farewell - Page Funeral Chapel.
In 1975, Gene answered the call of God to go into ministry, pastoring his first church, an independent church called Calvary Temple. In 1979, he began pastoring the Church of God in Selma. During that time, he served as a chaplain for the Selma Police Department and was involved in the ministerial association. He officiated weddings for his congregation and loved ones. He honored the lives of many through his pastoring of funeral services. Many knew him as the man you could call in the middle of the night to pray for you and he would drop everything to pray with you. His number one message to his congregation and family was to "Get in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!" His love of God shined through his obedience to his ministry, his love of people and his serving heart like Jesus.
He loved sharing his calling with his family through singing and worshiping with his wife and three daughters, known as the Singing Smith Family. He dedicated 40 years to his congregation and the city of Selma and retired as the lead pastor of the Church of God in Selma in 2019.
Since that time, he continued to serve the church as an associate pastor, doing what he loved to do, sharing the word of God. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and church family. He loved going to the races, watching NASCAR and football, playing guitar, singing with family, listening to Elvis Presley and watching Gunsmoke every night.
Gene is preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Lucille Smith, and his sister, Philis Ann Westbrook.
He is survived by his wife Sharon of 64 years, his brothers, Wade Smith (Patty) and Wayne Smith (Renee), his daughters, Trecia Stegall (Mark), Tammy Anderson (Ed) and Tonya Smith, his grandchildren, Brittany Anderson, Destiny Blackstone (Robby), Blake Anderson, and Haley Stegall (her
fiancé, Mason), his great grandson, Madden Blackstone, and his extended family, Jimmy and Denise Orosco, and their children, Farrah, Gavin and Rowan, who lovingly called him Papa.
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