Robert G. Smart

Robert G. Smart Sr., 77, former resident, passed away May 14, 2012 at Texas State Veteran Home in El Paso, TX. Visitation will be Friday, May 18, 2012 from 5:00 PM -7:00 PM at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. A Funeral Service is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2012, 10:00 A.M., at Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Deacon Tony Dominguez officiating. Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard will provide military honors. A Graveside Service will be at Saturday, May 19, 2012, 3:00 PM at Greenwood Cemetery, Pecos, Texas. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Robert G. Smart, Sr. was born January 3, 1935 in Malaga, NM to Reuben B. and Alpha Midget (Schoolcraft) Smart. Bob grew up farming and ranching in the Pecos Valley. He attended area schools until the 8th grade when he left school to work with his family farming cotton. Bob participated in all of the typical activities for boys in the 40's and 50's, rodeo, hunting, fishing, community activities and dances. He loved to read and learn and was especially interested in history and geography. In 1954 he was drafted and elected to join the Air Force where he soon earned his GED. He trained to be a jet engine mechanic and began to see the world as he was stationed in the Philippines, England and Thailand. Bob served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars and retired after 21 years of service. While stationed in Tucson, Arizona, he met and married JoAnn Halt in 1958. They had four children, Sally, Sonny, Steven and Gloria. During the 10 years he was stationed in Las Vegas, Nevada, he also developed a mobile home park with several rentals. Bob began taking his first college classes in Las Vegas. In 1977 he retired to Carlsbad where he continued college, earning an Associate of Arts degree in 1979 and eventually a Welding Certificate and a NM State Real Estate License through NMSU-C. He worked for a brief time in the oilfield and then returned to farming in the early 80's. In 1998 he purchased a farm in Pecos, TX where he grew cotton and then alfalfa. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Robert "Sonny" Smart, Jr., Steven Anthony Smart; daughter, Gloria Jean Hand; five brothers and a sister. Survivors are his wife, JoAnn Delores (Halt) Smart of El Paso, TX; daughter, Sally Pierce of El Paso, TX; four grandchildren: Timothy Trotter, Dominic Boutelle, Cynthia Boutelle and Heather Devine; four great-grandchildren and three brothers: George Smart, Walter Smart and Oliver "Pete" Smart and wife, Murriell and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Pete Smart, Ronnie Joe Smart, Walter Smart, Melvin Smart, Michael Smart and Dominic Boutelle. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.