Dr. Robert Edmund Smith, age 81, of Arcola, passed away peacefully Thursday morning at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis with his wife and children at his side.

Beloved husband of Natalie for 58 years; loving father of Sue (Kevin) Full of Overland Park, KS, Mark (Lisa) Smith of Glenview, IL, and Ann (Cliff) Peterson of O'Fallon, IL; adoring grandfather to Sara, Mark, and Rachel Full, Ryan and Braden Smith, and Jack, Ella, Will, and Luke Peterson; brother to William (Elizabeth) Smith of Plainfield, IL; son of the late Lois (nee Moyer) and William Smith.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 1, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Shrader Funeral Home, 204 N. Locust, Arcola. Funeral service will be Monday, July 2, 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church of Arcola, 311 E. Main St., Arcola, with Rev. Brent Budd officiating.  Burial will follow in the Arcola Cemetery.

Bob was born in Arcola on April 8, 1937 and, outside of college and dental school, lived in Arcola his entire life. He was a 1955 graduate of Arcola High School and was elected an Outstanding Alumni in 2016.  He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and Washington University Dental School.

Bob practiced dentistry in Arcola, starting in 1963. He was a mainstay on Main Street until his retirement in 2006.

He was a lifetime member of the Arcola First Christian, where he held many leadership positions through the years as well as playing the organ.

Bob was a charter member of the Arcola Foundation Board, where he served for 33 years. He was chairman for the last 28 years of his tenure. Bob was proud of the work done by the foundation and the scholarships awarded to many Arcola graduates.

To honor his many years of community involvement, Bob, along with Natalie, was a grand marshal for the 2006 Broom Corn Festival.

Bob cared deeply about everyone; family, friends, and new acquaintances. This was exemplified recently at Barnes Jewish Hospital, when many of the nurses would make a visit to Bob the first stop of their morning routines.  Bob took the time to ask questions and remembered everyone's stories.

Bob, Dad, Dampa, Grandpa, Doc, Doc Bob (he answered to all of them) will be sorely missed by many. From the family kitchen table to family vacations, from European trips to trips to the Hen House, family and friends alike are left with a hole in their hearts.

Memorials can be made to The Arcola Foundation or the Arcola Food Pantry.

Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.hilligossshraderfh.com.