Robert Henry Smith

Robert Henry “Bob” Smith, age 89, a lifelong farmer, passed away peacefully Friday evening, January 23, 2026, surrounded by family in his Swanton, Ohio home, the same house where he was born to Stephen C. and Isabel H. (Myers) Smith. Bob lived a life rooted in faith, family and dedication to his work.

Bob, who was one of eleven children, was born October 6, 1936 and grew up working on his parents’ farm. He attended Immaculate Conception, Marygrove where he received all of his sacraments. During his high school years, he worked in various construction jobs and helped family members build their homes. After his graduation from Swanton High School in 1954, Bob attended Toledo University where he was enrolled in the ROTC program and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He enlisted in the United States Army and served as First Lieutenant. Bob drove school bus and was a substitute mail carrier, as well as being a full time farmer. In 1967 he purchased the family farm where he continued to raise hogs and plant/harvest field crops until he retired.

Bob was a devout Catholic, actively participating as a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish. His faith was central to his identity and influenced many aspects of his life. Among his proudest accomplishments was his role as caretaker of Immaculate Conception, Marygrove Church and Cemetery, where he demonstrated his unwavering devotion to the church that was such an important part of his life. Bob was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Forresters, formally Catholic Knights of Ohio, and served on countless committees at his church over the years.

Bob enjoyed visiting with family and friends, watching baseball and football on TV, bowling on leagues and playing euchre. He was a competitive euchre player and everyone wanted to be Bob’s partner. Another one of his passions was genealogy and delving into the Smith Family Tree, uncovering the stories of his ancestors. He spent countless hours on his computer researching ancestry and linking thousands of individuals to local families, then he would graciously share his work.

Bob leaves behind a caring family, including his brother Jerome (Jerry) Smith and his sisters Lucille Smith, Helen Gillen and Theresa (Jeff) McArthur, as well as many cherished nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews, who will remember him fondly.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Charles Smith, Dr. John Smith, Donald Smith, David (Pat) Smith, William Smith and sister Rosemary Ott. Bob’s legacy will continue to impact those who were privileged to know him, as he will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and willingness to help others.

Visitation will be held Thursday, January 29th from 3 to 7pm at the Weigel Funeral Home in Swanton, where a vigil and rosary service will be held at 6:30 pm. Visitation will continue Friday, January 30th from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Immaculate Conception, Marygrove Catholic Church, 1750 N. Raab Rd. Swanton, OH, where a Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 am. Robert will be laid to rest next to his parents at Immaculate Conception, Marygrove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Parish or the Immaculate Conception, Marygrove Cemetery fund.