Robert Kenneth Smith

Robert Kenneth Smith, age 81, of Edgewood, MD, died on June 13, 2009 at his home. Born in Saltville, VA, he was the youngest of eleven children of the late William David and Sadie Jane Hays Smith. He was a veteran in the U.S. Army, after which he went to work for the railroad company. He moved to Maryland in the late 40's and began his own construction company, Robert K. Smith and son. He was an ordained minister at the Church of Jesus the Christ in the 1950's. Over the years he also built the many different homes where his family lived. Later he worked for Clark-Turner as a trim carpenter. He and his wife began Smith's care for the Elderly, one of the first assisted living homes in Harford county, which is still in operation.He traveled all over the United States with his family, including many trips to the west and two trips to Alaska. He loved to cook, hunt and fish.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 63 years, Connie Mae Combs Smith of Edgewood, MD; children, Robert William Smith and his wife, Trish, of Edgewood, MD, Janet Smith Morgan of Denver, CO, and Susan Smith Sanders and her husband, Walt, of Abingdon, MD; brother, Sanders JB Smith of Cockeysville, MD; sister, Mildred Eller of Chilhowie, VA; 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his children, Linda Carol Moxley, Rebecca Jean Woods, Benjamin Joseph Smith, and Phillip Rodney Smith; and eight siblings.