Mr. John Robertson Smith

September 13, 1920 - June 1, 2016

John Robertson Smith (Jack) passed away peacefully on June 1, 2016. He was born September 13, 1920 in Moultrie, Georgia and was the only son of John Robert Smith and Kathryn Robertson Smith. He graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII. Married to Betty Cobb September 5, 1946 in Charlotte, NC they moved to Asheville, NC in 1957 working with Westinghouse Electric Supply (later WESCO) until he retired in 1983. Jack was a member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church serving as a youth leader and on the church session for many years. He was a lover of many things! An avid tennis player, he became a tennis umpire and oversaw USTA tennis tournaments around North Carolina for many years until his health prevented him from traveling. He loved the game and, above all, insisted on good sportsmanship on his courts. His love of cooking and experimenting with food gave him great pleasure, his famous spaghetti sauce remains a mystery. For many years he loved planting in his yard – flowers, vegetables and rose bushes. And, most of all, he loved his family! Jack is survived by his wife Betty, his children Cynthia (Tony Sayer) and Jeffrey, his grandchildren D. Brett August Harker, Lauren Hollis Harker, Joanna C. Wade (Brian) and Abigail Clarke-Sayer (Warren Berry), and two great-grandchildren Margot C. Wade and Theodore A. Wade. A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 6 at 2:00 p.m., at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville.