Robert L. Smith
CHAMPAIGN – Professor Emeritus Robert L. Smith, P.E., 82, of Champaign passed away at 8:48 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2009, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.
Morgan Memorial home is assisting with arrangements.
A memorial service will be held in his honor Friday, March 13, 2009, at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Savoy. The Rev. Randy Gauger will officiate. Family will greet guests following the service.
Robert "Bob" Smith was born in Clinton on Nov. 13, 1926, son of Elmer and Dulcie Smith. He served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 as an aviation ordnanceman third class.
He married Muriel Louise Marvel of Weldon on Oct. 2, 1949.
Bob was a registered Professional Engineer since January of 1969. He was an alumnus of the University of Illinois, receiving a master's of education in 1991.
Robert L. Smith was a professor of lighting and illumination in the Department of Architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Bob authored two textbooks and numerous editions of Electrical Wiring-Industrial and Electrical Wiring-Commercial.
He leaves a family of a wife, Muriel Smith; a daughter, Cindy Brown and her husband Rick Brown of Fort Myers, Fla.; and a son, Brad Smith of Naperville; and four grandchildren, Derrick Brown of Wilmington, N.C., Danielle Jones and husband Casey Jones of Fayetteville, N.C., Rachel Smith, a student at University of Kansas, Lawrence, and Elizabeth Smith of Naperville.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be sent to the Early American Museum, The Heritage Center of Champaign County, Post office drawer 1040, Mahomet, IL 61853, where Bob's collection of early American lighting and lamps is on display.
Published in The News-Gazette on 3/10/2009
Robert L. Smith 