Robert Smith, Sr.

Rev. Robert Don "R.D." Smith, Sr., husband of 67 years to Margaret Edna (Leake) Smith, was born on October 1, 1932, in Lonaconing, Md., and departed this life at the age of 87, on Friday, August 14, 2020, in Middleburg, Fla.

He was the son of the late Edgar Mortimer Smith, Sr. and Della Mae (Clingerman) Smith. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Loretta Smith and Ada V. Kifer; four brothers, Luther G. Smith, Edgar M. Smith, Jr., Kenneth Smith, and Lloyd Wayne “Red” Smith.

Rev. Smith began his career as a Jewel Tea salesman, in Lonaconing, Md. Knowing that God had called him into full-time ministry, he left Lonaconing with his wife and son and enrolled in Eastern Bible Institute, where he was a student for two years.

He spent fifteen years in Petersburg, W.Va., at Faith Assembly of God, where he was instrumental in building a church and parsonage; six years in Wanchese, N.Car., at Wanchese Assembly of God, where he founded the Wanchese Christian Academy; fourteen years at Hancock Assembly of God, where he also engaged in a building program for a beautiful church facility and parsonage. He officially retired in 1994 from full-time pastoring. While in retirement, he spent four years at Green Ridge Assembly of God, as their interim pastor, and also held revivals at neighboring churches in the Tri-State area.

Rev. Smith is lovingly remembered by his wife, Margaret, whom he married in Lonaconing, on December 6, 1952; his son, Robert D. Smith, Jr. and his wife, Amanda, of Middleburg, Fla.; two grandchildren, Rebecca Merskin and her husband, Elliott, of Lakewood, Colo., and Robert D. Smith, III and his wife, Amy, of Lakeland, Fla.; four beautiful great-grandchildren, Ella Smith, Emma Merskin, Asher Merskin, and Claire Smith; his sister, Leona Clark, of Lonaconing; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A public visitation will be held on Friday, August 21, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., at the Hancock Assembly of God, 431 North Pennsylvania Ave., Hancock, Md.

A private Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at 10:30 a.m., at the Hancock Assembly of God with Rev. R. Elliott Merskin and Rev. Jeff Leake officiating. Interment will be held at the end of the service in the Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church cemetery, in Warfordsburg, Pa.

Livestreaming will be available for everyone to view the Funeral Service.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Grove Funeral Home, in Hancock, Md. Online condolences will be accepted at www.grovefh.com