Robert "Bob" SmithJuly 14, 1931 - January 21, 2017Livermore, CARobert Ray "Bob" Smith, 85 of Livermore, CA, died on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. He was born on July 14, 1931, in French Camp, CA to Iva Oralee Corkin Smith and Frank Boyd Smith. The family included siblings: Elliott, Jewel, Dixie, Tommy, David and Shirley.Bob began his life during the Great Depression in the Stockton Delta where he trapped, fished, and worked in the fields. At 13 he graduated 8th grade and left home to ride the rails searching for field work. At 16 he joined the army and looked forward to "3 squares" a day, clean clothes, and shoes. Bob was stationed in Japan after basic training. Some of his fondest memories were of this time. Serving in the 24th Division, 19th Regiment, Bob became a demolitions expert. The division was deployed to Pusan, Korea as the war began just as he was turning 19. After the war, Bob returned home to California and became an iron worker. He worked on the Oakland Kaiser building and many other projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as in Greenland.While in Oakland, CA, Bob met Joyce Grotemeyer, a Salinas native and on Friday the 13th February 1960 they were married. Together, they began a family and a business. The family grew to include two children, Kevin and Dorla. The business, R&S, grew to include 23 door manufacturing, installation, wholesale and automation companies throughout California. Bob was well known in the industry as a hardworking individual, a self-starter who went out of his way to help others, including those considered to be his "competitors." Giving many a hand up along the way, Bob and Joyce always thought it was their duty to help others because they were helped by many on their own journey.Bob was a friendly and helpful man to his last day, running errands for his friends and neighbors at Rosewood Gardens by Watermark in Livermore, CA where he and Joyce lived for the last 2 ½ years. His cheerful and helpful attitude will be missed by many. Bob Smith loved his life and loved sharing it with others.Family and friends will come together to celebrate Bob on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at 2:00 p.m., at Asbury United Methodist Church, 4743 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550 with a reception to follow at the hall. Memorial donations may be made to . View the online memorial for Robert "Bob" Smith