Robert Thurston Smith, III

Robert Thurston Smith III (“Skipper”), 66, of Wharton, Texas, gained his angel wings on Monday, July 15, 2024. He passed away at home unexpectedly while having his favorite meal of pancakes and sausage. He was born on January 8, 1958 in Wharton, Texas to the late Robert Thurston Smith, Jr., and Alma Hobbins Smith. He was the third child and the only son of Alma and RT Smith of New Gulf, Texas. 

Skipper was raised in New Gulf, Texas and attended school in New Gulf, Iago and Boling. While attending Boling High School, he played football and ran track. After high school, Skip joined Halliburton who sent him back to school to learn cementing of wells, drilling, and other tasks involving oil rigs. He later went on to work on offshore rigs. After the oil downturn, Skip drove 18-wheeler hazardous material tanker trucks across the country and into Canada. He always came home with interesting stories about his trips and the people he would meet along the way.

Skip was preceded in death by his mother, Alma Hobbins Smith (July 6, 2022), and father, Robert Thurston Smith, Jr., (September 5, 1991). 

Skip was a good man who enjoyed spending time with family. If anyone in the family or outside the family needed help, he was always there and he never complained. Of all his life achievements, perhaps the most significant was spending the last 10 years or so of his life being the primary caregiver for his mother until she passed away on July 6, 2022 with complications from Alzheimer's. In the beginning before his mother was homebound, he would chauffeur and escort his mother Alma and her friends to dances every Saturday night and would dance the night away with these lovely ladies. 

 In the mid-nineties Skip obtained his pilot’s license and loved flying to various locations in Texas. He appreciated the simpler things in life, such as fishing, hunting, camping, building campfires, Matagorda Beach, Garner State Park and debating politics. Gun and knife collecting were hobbies that he truly enjoyed as well. 

 In May of 2023 Skip had a stroke and his health began to deteriorate, which required that he stay closer to home. He took pleasure in caring for his beautiful hibiscus and other flowering plants. A favorite pastime was caring for the neighborhood cats and their playful kittens. He spent many hours watching the kittens play. 

 Skip lived a good life and was happy, even though the last year he had to stay closer to home due to his health (which he never wanted to discuss). There were always more important things to discuss, such as politics. 

 Skip is survived by his sisters, Diane Richer and husband, Gerard of Houston; Lu Ann Barbre and husband, Allen of Burr; Gay Lynn Cerny and husband, Richard of El Campo; nieces, Nicole Alvarez and husband, Adam; Natalie Tabares and husband, Jesse; Stephanie Martinez and husband, Paul; Emily Davis and husband, Shane; nephew, Eric Cerny and wife, Rachel; and great nephews and nieces, Trace Alvarez, Nadia Tabares, Adan Alvarez, Adrian Alvarez, Abigail Sanchez, Alaina Alvarez, Benjamin Cordova, Kataleya Martinez and Tate Cerny, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and close family friends.

Visitation ad Remembrances will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Wharton Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at Wharton Funeral Home with Reverend Robert Hobbins, a favorite cousin, officiating. 

All family and friends are invited to join Skip’s immediate family for a Celebration of Life and dinner immediately following the service scheduled to begin at approximately 4:00 pm at the Simply Divine Event Center. The meal will be catered by Ben’s Chuckwagon of Wallis. 

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association in his name. 

VISITATION WITH FAMILY PRIOR TO SERVICE: Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM Wharton Funeral Home 515 E Boling Hwy Wharton, TX 77488 (979) 532-3410 SERVICES:

Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM Wharton Funeral Home 515 E Boling Hwy Wharton, TX 77488 (979) 532-3410 INTERMENT (private, to be held at a later date) CELEBRATION OF LIFE (Dinner and Remembrances): Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM immediately following service Simply Divine Lunch & Tea Room (event center) 300 W Milam Street Wharton, TX 77488 (832) 279-5850

 Note From the Family: 

We hope that all family and friends can attend the service and will join us for dinner immediately after the service so that we may celebrate the life of our brother, uncle, cousin and friend Skipper / Robert Smith.