HIXSON, TN – Robert Kenneth “Bob” Smith, 88, passed away peacefully in April, 2025 at the Hospice Care Center of Chattanooga. He was born in Lewisburg, TN in August, 1936 to Kenneth and Lucile Smith. Bob moved with his family to Knoxville in 1949. He graduated from Central High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Between starting college and completing his degree, Bob proudly served in the U.S. Air Force, spending several years stationed overseas in Germany and France. After earning his degree in 1963, he married the love of his life, Gwen, and began his engineering career at General Electric in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he had the honor of working on the Apollo project. He later transferred to Cape Canaveral, Florida, before ultimately joining the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). In 1973, the family settled in Chattanooga, where Bob contributed to the construction of the Raccoon Mountain hydroelectric plant and lived for the rest of his life. A quiet man—unless you got him talking about something he was passionate about—Bob was known for his generosity, kindness, and deep devotion to his family. Especially in later years, when lovingly teased about stories from his past, he was known for his infectious grin and his sincere gratitude for those he loved.
Graveside services will be Saturday, April 26, 4:30 p.m. at Davis Cemetery, Atwood, AL. Deaton Funeral Home, Red Bay, AL will be in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-two years, Gwen Smith; daughters, Michele McCorkle (David) and Lara Flory (Rick), both of Chattanooga; grandchildren, Cory Walker of Sunnyvale, California and Shae Brown (Jack) of Chattanooga; step-grandchildren, Megan Flory of Fairbanks, Alaska; Andrew Flory (Sydney) of Fall River, Massachusetts and Paige Velazquez (Damian) of Wareham, Massachusetts, along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his infant son, Peter Eric Smith and his sister and brother-in-law, Juanita and Robert Hickey.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff and volunteers at the Hospice Care Center of Chattanooga for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Central High School Foundation in Knoxville, TN, P. O. Box 18448, Knoxville, TN 37928.
