May 20, 1944 – December 26, 2023
Robert A. Smith, “Bob,” 79, Noblesville, unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at IU Health Saxony in Fishers. He was born on May 20, 1944, to Richard and Elizabeth (Deming) Smith in Rochester, Ind.
Bob attended Indiana University, where he studied accounting and was a proud member of Phi Gamma Delta. He completed his law degree from Indiana University Law School in 1969. He practiced law for 53 years in several capacities, from Trial Attorney for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., to Assistant Attorney General for the State of Indiana; he started general practice work in 1974 and civil trial work in 1980. He was with Lewis and Wagner Law Firm until he started his practice in 1990. His firm, Smith & Wade, was active until 2022. Bob had a successful career; he argued before the Indiana Supreme Court and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Chicago, among others.
Bob served, at various times, on the boards of The Indiana Forum, Inc., a public educational foundation, the Indiana Committee for Humanities, Inc., the Executive Committee of the Indiana State Bar Association, Legislative Section, the Executive Committee of the Indianapolis Bar Association, Litigation Section, and the Indiana State Bar Association, Executive Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution. He was a diplomat of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana.
He was active in the community of Westfield since it became a city; he sat on the Westfield Advisory Planning Commission, 2008-2019, and the Board of Zoning Appeals, 2008-2019, and was the Vice Chair for the Westfield Economic Development Foundation.
He is survived by his sons, Robert (Alexis) Smith and Chris (Betsy) Smith; daughters, Mitzi (Ed) Jones, Tracy Small, and Patti Bayless; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; siblings, Richard (Marilyn) Smith, Linda (Rudy) Kroger, Shannon (Roy) Almquist, and Susan Bernstein; and several nieces and nephews and his very loved dog Sophie.
In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, Sandra Sue Smith, in 2015.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 4 p.m. on March 23, 2024, at Randall & Roberts Funeral Center, 1685 Westfield Road, Noblesville. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Indiana Legal Services, Attn: Office of Fund Development, 1200 Madison Ave., Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46225 (indianalegalservices.org).
Condolences: randallroberts.com