Mr. Robert Charles Smith, in his 66th Season of Life, joined his ancestors in Heaven on Saturday, December 14, 2024 from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Better known as "Raab", Mr. Smith was a Muskogee High School graduate with the prestigious Class of 1978.

The Celebration Ceremony, as "Raab" instructed in his wishes will be held on Saturday afternoon, December 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM in the Martin Luther King Jr Center. Reverend Michael Brackeen, associate Minister at Macedonian Baptist Church, will Preside.

Family and Friends are encouraged to wear your favorite Sports team jersey, casual attire and come to share stories, remarks, enjoy the music, and those that desire to bring food, the family asks that you bring it to the MLK Center.  As He would want it, this will be a Non Traditional celebration inclusive  of laughs, remarks, fables, music and food.

Those who knew "Raab"know what he loved and we will honor him His way.

Robert Charles Smith, went to be with his Lord, last Saturday, December 14, 2024, at St Francis Hospital in Tulsa, OK. Robert's voice and humor have been silenced ,but his zest for life and love will forever remain in our hearts.

On October 8, 1958, a son was born in Kansas City, Mo to Sadie Mae Owen Smith and Bobby Smith Jr. They named their son Robert Charles. He was the second child and the only boy that God had blessed this family with. Later after his parent divorced, and his father remarried, he was blessed with two brothers. Robert grew up in both Kansas City, Mo and Muskogee, OK… In Kansas City he attended Seven Oaks Elementary, Annunciation Catholic School, father Bennedict Justice and East High School.  In Muskogee, while living with his grandparents, Toby A. and Adlissa G. Owen, he attended Dunbar Elementary and Franklin Elementary Schools. In 1975 he moved to Muskogee with his Mom, where he attended and finished Muskogee High School. After high school Robert attended Lanston University.

Roberts love for sports started in grade school, in Muskogee with his grandfather, Toby Owen. He and Poppy attended and watched many sporting events, eating, laughing and talking in detail about rules and strategies. Robert began playing basketball in grade school, in school, church and recreational teams through high school. After high school, he was a referee, a coach and continued to be an active fan of all sports, including the Kansas City Chiefs and the Muskogee Roughers.

After college, Robert moved to Oklahoma City, OK. While there he was employed by Mercy Health Center, then he was recruited by Midwest Dialysis, which became Oklahoma Nephrology Associates to become an Acute Hemodialysis Technician. Oklahoma City is where Robert met Joan Maynard. They were married on October 20, 1984. To this union one son, Patrick Owen Smith Tapp was born, January 15, 1987. Robert divorced in 1990. During this time Robert also refereed football and basketball, coached and supported several teams beginning with Independence Christian Academy in Norman Ok, where he coached them to win the National Christian High School Girls Basketball Championship in 1988, Coach – Sooner Games: 1988 – 1991, Sooner Games Women Basketball Championship win 1988. When Robert moved back to Muskogee to work at Tulsa Regional Medical Center as a Acute Hemodialysis Technician in 1991, he helped coach the Dr Pepper Softball to become Regional and State Champions, USSSA – 12 and under SW Regional Runner up: 1991, Tulsa Rogers Assistant Girls Basketball Coach: 93/94 and 94/95 – District, Regional and State Champions. In 1995, he moved to Kansas City Mo as the Chief Technician with Renal Treatment Centers.

While in Kansas City, 1996, Robert worked for Sprint PCS as a Technical Support Specialist, then in 1997 he was employed by Truman Medical Center as an Operating Room Aide, where he was eventually promoted to his last position as Rehabilitation Therapy Technician Supervisor until 2014. In 2014, he began a new career as a Retail Sales Merchandiser with Advantage Solutions representing Wrigley until his health declined and he retired back in Muskogee, OK. While working at Truman Medical Center, Robert was hired by Heart of America Cell Saver as Senior consultant/ Autotransfusion Technical Support Representative, 1998. This position inspired him to become an entrepreneur, and they became his first client in 2001. His business was called Medical Consulting Technicians. His business performed maintenance and repairs on bio-medical equipment being used in hospitals and clinics in the Kansas City metro area. While in Kansas City Mo, Robert continued to work with youth as a coach and community volunteer. He was actively involved as a Truman Medical Center Auxiliary Board Member, Truman Medical Center Staff Representative and Coach – Corporate Challenge, Community Outreach Volunteer Staff, Advisor - Medical Explorers Program, Advisor – Youth Traffic Offenders Program, Truman Medical Center Dodge Ball and Kickball Teams Coach and more  He was also involved with many community organizations, which included the N.A.A.C.P. and the Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation.

In 2014, Robert moved back to Muskogee because of his health, but that didn't stop him from supporting youth and young entrepreneurs in our community. He was always there to support and promote.

Robert's love and devotion to his family, friends and community were renowned. He was a great brother, uncle and friend which could be seen through his words, actions, reactions and attitudes. Especially his laughter and one liners…. Oh so you got jokes, looks like you need a friend, Those of us that knew him are deeply indebted, grateful and saddened by our loss.

He is preceded in death by Mother: Sadie O Smith, Father: Bobby Smith Jr, Maternal Grandparents: Toby A and Adlissa G. Owen, Paternal Grandparents: Charlie and Pearl Smith

Who he leaves behind:

Sister: Tobi G Ledbetter (husband) James C Ledbetter (children)Ashley Dawn and Karter Naveen all in Muskogee, OK

Brother: Gregory C Smith, Philadelphia, PA

Brother: Stephen Smith (wife) Monique Ollis-Smith (children) Stephen II and Madison Stockton, CA

Son: Patrick Owen Smith-Tapp (grandson) Lazarus Columbia, MO

Adopted Son: Nathaniel Simmons

Special Friends and family …… I apologize in advance; I know that I haven't included everyone]…. Estella Ann and Jerry Cain and family, Rhonda and Charles Cox Richardson, Kevin Hughes and family, Kenneth Perkins and the Perkins family, Cedric Johnson Jr. and family, Vincent Phillips, Deandria Carter, Sherwood Ledbetter and Family, Gloria and Herman Walker, Dr Pepper Softball Team, Truman Medical Center Friends and Muskogee Roughers for Life,  Langston Lions, friends and family

His cremation and Celebration is under the Auspices Keith Biglow and The Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc of Muskogee.

LOCAL FLORIST:  Lakeland Florist (918)687-7574

LOCAL FLORIST: lakelandflorist.com (918)687-7574