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Robert Paul Smith, April 16, 1956 to June25, 2017 Robert Paul Smith, a humble man with a great and wonderful complexity. Robert, or ‘Bob’ as many new him, was born April 16,1956 in Fresno, CA. Growing up in Sanger, CA, he graduated from Sanger High in 1974. It was a great time to live and enjoy small town America. Bob passed away on June 25, 2017 at the age of 61. He was the youngest of 6 children. He is preceded in death by his parents Hudson Ellis Smith and Evangeline Tina Smith, and sisters Jean Stephens, Mary Hulsey and Lynn Holland. He leaves his wife of 25 years Linda Smith and two siblings, Deborah Fossen (Smith) of Reedley, CA and brother Richard Smith of Fresno, CA. Bob lived a full life filled with adventures and passions. Early in life he displayed a talent for pottery, creating artistic sculpture or beautiful works on the wheel. Woodworking was a precise and often complicated work of art all in itself. A perfectionist indeed. His passion for motorcycles over the years led him finally purchase the beast of a bike, a Yamaha 1900CC Stratoliner. He loved the mechanical beauty of the beast and the pure power. With music Bob learned to play the cello. Granted, he enjoy 70s style hard rock, but his knowledge and love for classical music was much more intense. World War II aircraft was another passion and he often volunteered to assist at the Madera Air Show back in it’s day. His favorite plane of the time was the Consolidated PBY Catalina, a beautiful flying boat. He loved fishing, golf and camping. He and Linda fished and camped often over the years. Bob’s favorite place to relax and enjoy the great outdoors was at Ward Lake, high in the Sierra Nevadas in the Kaiser Wilderness. He and Linda have many fond camping memories, fishing and catching their limit each day. Being a perfectionist, Bob strived to be the best at whatever he pursued. Whether it was his creative endeavors, motorcycles or the work with ARC and his clients, Robert gave 100% of his efforts to the very end. He loved his job and could talk hours each day on the accomplishments of his clients. He thoroughly enjoyed assisting others accomplish great tasks. Those that knew him are much aware of his sarcastic wit and humor. His dry sense of humor could often drift over the top of one’s head before realizing that it was only a joke. Though he showed no desire for attention his opinions never went unnoticed. He called it as he saw it. He was honest, straight forward, yet compassionate. This was Bob; loved, admired and respected. Robert received little warning of the inevitable, so he lived life right to the very end. God bless him.

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Robert Paul Smith

April 16, 1956 - June 25, 2017