CASPER-A memorial service for Robert G. Smith, 72, will be held this summer in the Big Horn Mountains above Sheridan.

He died May 6, 2001, in Casper.

He was born Jan. 4, 1929, in Sheridan, the son of Gary and Ruth (Swinyer) Smith.  He attended school in Sheridan and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1947.

Following graduation, he entered the Army and was stationed with the 714th Intelligence Unit in Germany as a map compiler.  For a time, he worked in Paris at Gen. Dwight Eisenhower's Headquarters Map Depot, which was part of NATO.

On Jan. 2, 1952, he married Catherine Bodenhamer in Worland.

He graduated from the University of Wyoming in June 1958 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and a minor in mathematics.

He worked for Texaco as an engineer for 24 years, transferring to Casper from Lockport, Ill., in April 1963.  He retired in 1984 in Baton Rouge, La.

He was manager and coach of Teton Drillings' Little League team in the mid-1960s and early 1970s.  He was a past master of Pathfinder Lodge #42 A.F. & A.M.; pasty worthy patron of Fort Casper Chapter #4 and past associate guardian of Jobs Daughters Bethels #41 and #9.

He loved to work in his shop and create many pieces of furniture and clocks from his 179-year-old cherry wood obtained from Hillsboro, Ohio, the hometown of Caspar Collins.  He was proud of his rose garden and spent many hours there.  The mountains were his place of worship and he loved to camp, fish and hunt in the Big Horns.  He bowled on several city leagues and was a devoted Denver Broncos fan.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years; a daughter, Gail J. Hughes of Lacy Wash.; two sons and their wives, Gary R. Smith of Renton, Wash., and James R. Smith of Gillette; a double cousin of Sheridan; seven grandchildren; and three step-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.