Rudolph Howard Smith III

Rudolph (Rudy) Howard Smith III, 70, of Spring Hill, Florida, passed away on December 28, 2025. Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Rudy grew up in Old Bridge before moving to Spring Hill in 1986. He graduated from Cedar Ridge High School in 1974 and went on to study in the trade industry, becoming a true "Jack of All Trades" who could build or fix just about anything.

Rudy was a loving husband to his wife of 46 years, Lori, and a devoted father to his son, Rudy IV. He was known for his generous spirit, his love of nature, and his passion for helping animals-often rescuing strays from roadsides and construction sites. (He even once brought home a monkey, but we won't talk about that!) Recently, Rudy dedicated himself to protecting gopher turtles in his neighborhood from urban development.

A botanist at heart, Rudy cultivated his plants with great care. He was also an excellent chef who found his greatest joy in cooking for others. A lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan-despite joking that "they've sucked for the past 30 years"-Rudy never lost his sense of humor. He loved relaxing with his favorite TV show, Everybody Loves Raymond, often saying he could relate to almost every episode.

Rudy was an amazing brother and friend who could talk you out of dark places with his infectious laugh and sometimes twisted sense of humor. His ability to lift spirits and bring joy to any room was one of his greatest gifts.

He was preceded in death by his father, Rudolph Howard Smith Jr., whom he lost too soon and spent his life striving to emulate. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lori; his son, Rudy IV; his mother, Margaret (Alma) Smith; his sister, Barbara Base; and his uncle, John Frankowski.

Rudy's warmth, humor, and generosity touched everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.