1932-2024
Robert Hoyt Smith, age 92, of Pine Bluff, passed away Thursday, August 29, 2024. He was born January 6, 1932 in Benton Arkansas, a son of Richard and Floy Beard Smith.
His grandparents were Robert Walter and Sarah Alpha Tull Smith and Hoyt Henry and Mae Bell Martin Beard, all of whom are buried in the family plots at Ebenezer Cemetery in Tull, Arkansas.
He is preceded in death by parents, grandparents, brother, Jimmy William Smith and infant sister, Mary Frances Smith. In addition to his wife, Sue, Bob is survived by a son, Todd Winston Smith (Gina), of Little Rock; three daughters, Sabra Inzer (Dr. Kerry) of Dallas, TX, Paige Jernigan (Kenton) of NY, Jennifer Dollins (Kevin) of Austin, TX; a brother Ronnie Mac Smith, two sisters, Patsy Steele and Pamela Newcomb all of Benton; and nine grandchildren, Nathan and Olivia Smith, Zachary and Emily Inzer, Cole, Sheppard and Miles Jernigan, and Alex and Parker Dollins.
Bob (as he was best known), lived in Tull, Arkansas through the first grade after which the family moved to Benton. The community of Tull was named after his great-grandfather Dowell Tull. Bob was active in all sports and graduated from Benton High School in 1949. He attended Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia on a football scholarship. During the third season he was injured, which prevented him from playing, so he left school and was drafted into the US Army during the Korean conflict. He completed Basic Training at Ft. Polk, LA then served at Ft. Jay, on Governors Island, NYC. He was selected by the 716th Military Police Battalion for training and given a special assignment for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for investigative work. He was then transferred to Maine, reporting to McGuire Air Force Base with Bangor as home office. He was honorably discharged in October of 1954.
After returning to Benton, he completed a biology degree at Henderson State Teachers University. While at Henderson, he made All AIC baseball team. There he met his wife, student Sue Winston, whom he married in 1958. They moved to Pine Bluff where he taught for a few years before then joining the International Paper Mill as a computer programmer. He was hired by Simmons Bank to start their first computer department. At the time, only AP&L and International Paper Company had computers in Pine Bluff. He purchased the first IBM mainframe 440 computer in the state of Arkansas for Simmons which covered the entire floor of the lower building adjoining the Simmons tower. Today’s cell phones have more computing power than that mainframe. Each day, key punch operators punched the cards for every banking transaction, running 24 hours a day. Many student groups toured the “new” computer department for which Simmons was so proud.
Retiring after 26 years at Simmons as Vice-President, he worked as accountant for son Todd’s Confetti Party and Tent Rental business in Little Rock. Bob was an avid golfer and played tournaments all over the country. He was president of the Evening Lions Club and a member of John Fox’s Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church in Pine Bluff. He enjoyed his family at their house on Lake Hamilton with many years of food, fun and fellowship while retaining residence in Pine Bluff.
Contributions in his memory may be made to First Baptist Church, 6501 S. Hazel Street, Pine Bluff, AR 71603; or the Southeast Arkansas Arts and Science Center, 701 S. Main Street, Pine Bluff, AR 71601.
A private family graveside service will be at Lost Creek Cemetery in Sheridan by Fuller Hale-South Funeral Services.
