Robert Howell Smith, 96, died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. The funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Allen officiating. Burial will follow in Lafayette Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

Born in Oxford, Miss., to the late Escar S. and Lelia Welch Smith, Mr. Smith was a retired operating supervisor for Northeast Mississippi Power. He had also retired from Champion Building after working as an electrician for 16 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church and a former member of the Civitan Club and Oxford Squares.

Mr. Smith was a veteran of the United States Army where he achieved the rank of Sergeant, serving during World War II. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma Hamilton Smith; sisters, Juanice Moorhead, Polly Underwood, Ozelle Jones, Euree Stanford, Marjorie Stewart, Nelda Black and Sarah Walker and brothers, Henry Smith and Reeder Smith.

Survivors include his sons, Robert H. Smith, Jr. and his wife Dianne of West Point, Miss., and Brian H. Smith and his wife, Tina of Oxford, Miss.; brother, Ray Smith of Blythewood, S.C.; grandchildren, Ashley O’Neill of Round Rock, Texas and Alex Smith of Columbia, Mo., and great-grandchildren, Tristan and Ethan O’Neill of Round Rock, Texas and Kadri and Zane Smith of Columbia, Mo.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Smith’s memory may be made to First Baptist Church, 800 Van Buren Avenue, Oxford, MS or The Pantry, P.O. Box 588, Oxford, MS 38655.

In honor of Mr. Smith’s service to our country, the flag of the United States Army will be flown at Waller Funeral Home.

For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, please visit our website at www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.