Robert A. Smith

Robert A. Smith, 93, of Beaver, passed away Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

Born August 18, 1926 in Titusville, PA, he was a son of the late Arthur H. and Irene C. Smith. He was a long-time resident of Beaver and the Beaver area, having lived in the community since 1936. A 1945 graduate of Beaver Area High School, and a 1949 graduate of Geneva College, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps Training Command at Lackland Air Force Station, San Antonio during WWII.

Robert’s early employment was with Michael Baker, Jr. Inc., as an engineering draftsman and graphic illustrator. In 1956, he joined the Koppers Company, Pittsburgh as marketing and sales promotion manager for coal tar products. Later, he joined US Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, as Advertising and Marketing Communications Director for its new Chemical Products Division. During this period, he served as President of the Pittsburgh Advertising Club and Vice President of the American Advertising Federation. Robert rejoined the Baker Corporation in 1982 as Vice President and Director of Corporate Communications, retiring in 1992.

Robert was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Beaver, and a former member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Beaver, where he served for many years as senior warden and vestryman, lay reader, and choir member.

He was an active participant in many community and professional organizations, including the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation where he served as a long-time member and past president, and was one of the founders in the establishment and design of the award-winning Beaver Area Heritage Museum. Other community organization boards he lent his talents to included the Rochester Salvation Army Advisory Board, Beaver Memorial Library Board, and the Beaver Area School District Education Foundation. Robert served for 10 years as co-founder and Executive Director of the Beaver County Educational Trust. In 1991, he was recognized by the Geneva College Alumni Association with its Distinguished Service Award.

Robert was a founding member of the Beaver Streetscape Committee, working from its formation in 1992 to 2014. In this role, he was a major planner and designer for the Beaver Clock Tower, the memorial monument for the First American Regiment at Fort McIntosh, the Flag Plaza at College Avenue, and a number of other Beaver landmarks. Robert was well known for his artistic paintings and line renderings of dozens of Beaver area homes and landmarks, and for his architectural models of several local historic buildings.

In 1978, Robert planned and directed the 200th Anniversary Celebration of the building of Fort McIntosh, and in 2012, planned and designed the construction and dedication of the national monument to the 1st American Regiment of 1778, the beginning of the United States Army, with Fort McIntosh in Beaver as its first duty post.

He was an active contributor to the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation, and to the town of Beaver. Robert was the designer and co-author of “Beaver Town”, the definitive 200th Anniversary History Book of Beaver, published by the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation in 2002. More recently, he served as a key member of the steering committee for the restoration and development of the original P&LE Railroad passenger station, which is now a cultural and event center in the community.

In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his dear wife of 51 years, Wandalea Johnson Smith in 2001; his son, Jonathan Smith in 2015; six older brothers and sisters, Catherine Stevenson, Dorothy McKenzie, Jane Stapf, Ruth Ewing, William Smith, and Richard Smith; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Devins, Buford, GA, and Abigail Brown (Jordon), Rochester, NY; three grandchildren, Morgan Longabaugh (Ben), Rachel Brown, and Kyle Devins (Jessica); and his significant other, Emy McIsaac, Beaver.

Friends will be received Sunday, December 8, 2019 from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. in the Noll Funeral Home, Inc., 333 Third St., Beaver. A funeral service will be conducted by his friend, Reverend Carl Neely, Monday, December 9, 2019 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Beaver. Interment will take place at Beaver Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Robert’s name may be made to the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation, 1 River Road, Beaver, PA 15009.