Memorial Service: 11:00 am,
Saturday, Apr 21, at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, Covington.
Visitation: Friday, Apr 20, 12:00-4:00 pm at Edline-Yahn & Covington
Funeral Chapel, 27221 156th Ave SE, Kent. Interment: 11:00 am, Monday, Apr 23, at the Tahoma
National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those
wishing to honor Robert may send memorials to Union Gospel Mission at
www.ugm.org, Missionary Aviation at www.maf.org, World Vision at
www.worldvision.org, or World Relief at worldreliefseattle.org.
Cdr Smithhart was born in
Greenville, MS, on July 16, 1928, to Robert Lee Smithhart Sr and Evelyn Pickett
Smithhart. Bob went into the Marines after graduating high school. When he
returned home after his stint of duty, he attended Sunflower Junior College. He
attended naval school in Pensacola, FL in 1949, which included an assignment in
Corpus Christi, TX. He received his
first squadron assignment at Whidbey Island, WA. Throughout his career in the
Navy, Cdr Smithhart flew numerous aircraft including the B25, P2V, and Corsair.
His service took him to Japan, Kodiak, and Spain.
Bob was a commercial airline Captain for United Airlines, retiring in1988. He started his 33 year career with United as a First Officer and retired as a B747 Captain. He flew legendary aircraft such as the DC3, Convair, DC6, DC7, B720, B727, DC10 and B747.
He was the founder of the
Flying Disciples Club, where he instructed 128 young aspiring missionary
pilots.
After retirement, he remained at Crest Airpark in Covington, WA. He served on the finance board with Cornerstone United Methodist Church; mentored several Sudanese refugees; founded a computer program at Thomas Academy; assisted with computer classes at Cedar Heights Junior High; continued to work on a variety of airplanes, cars, and boats; and walked several miles daily as long as his health would allow.
Bob was an intelligent,
quiet, thoughtful person with many abilities which he developed for the good of
others as well as himself. He knew the
sound of a well-tuned engine and loved to work with his hands to achieve that
sound. He had a passion for God, his family,
his friends, and his country.
Robert Smithhart married in
1953 and had 2 sons and 1 daughter. In1975, Cdr Smithhart married Priscilla
Kampa of Grenville, SD and had 1 son and 1 daughter.
Survivors: His wife of nearly
37 years, Priscilla T. Kampa-Smithhart, sons: Richard L. Smithhart (Kathryn),
James R. Smithhart (Sissi), and Carter L. Smithhart (Lisanna), daughters: Jenny
Ann Dibley (Doug), and Noelle Sierra Smithhart; brothers: John Smithhart and
Thomas Smithhart; sisters: Yvonne Bennett, and Mary Evelyn Smithhart; granddaughters:
Michelle Leigh Dittamore, and Audrey Louise Smithhart; grandsons: Colin J.
Dittamore, Sam R. Smithhart, and Scott W. Smithhart; great-grandson Grayson A.
Newte; and other family members and loved ones.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents and brothers W. Leroy
Smithhart and Richard A. Smithhart.
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