Bobby Gene Smith

Dr. Bobby Gene Smith, D.O. passed away peacefully on June 2, 2020, surrounded by his wife and children at the age of 85 at his home in Pantego, TX. Funeral service will be at Wade Family Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 from 6-8 p.m. Burial will be private at the D/FW National Cemetery at a later date. Bobby was born in Capshaw, Alabama on January 3, 1935 to Garland M. and Bell Spencer Smith. He was the youngest of six children of cotton farming parents. He did not graduate from high school, but enlisted in the USAF at age 17 and subsequently completed his GED. During his four year commitment, he was a medic, which led to his desire to become a physician. That is when he met the love of his life, Shirley Louise Lee of Iowa Park, TX. They eloped on December 29, 1953 while she was a senior in high school. His desire to become a doctor led him to Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX where he received his undergraduate degree in pre-med. That was followed by four years of med school at Kirksville Osteopathic Medical School in Kirksville, Missouri. Jeanne, their first child, was born at Sheppard AFB while serving his country. Steve came along during his sophomore year of med school and Lisa joined the family 3 weeks before graduation. The family moved to Arlington, TX in May of 1962 where he was a resident at Plattner's Hospital in Grand Prairie. He then opened his practice on N. Collins St. where Dr. Samuel Pearson joined him. A few years later, he would build a medical clinic on E. Pioneer Pkwy and practiced there with Dr. Richard Stratton. Recently, he relocated to W. Park Row where he retired after 56 years of caring for his patients and countless numbers of pilots and air traffic controllers. In 1971 he purchased 50 acres in Springtown, TX with a vision to plant a grape vineyard and eventually open a winery. He was instrumental in getting legislation passed, called the Texas Farm Winery Act, allowing grape growers to produce wine in a dry county. La Buena Vida Vineyards was one of only 3 wineries at that time in the state of Texas. His legacy continues through John and Debbie Wilson who purchased the winery in 2016. Bobby had many life accomplishments, including past president of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, past president of the Arlington Downtown Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, past president of Texas Grape Growers Association. He was appointed by Governor Preston Smith to the Texas Crime and Narcotics Commission. He was on the Board of Directors of several organizations, was team doctor for the Arlington High School football team. He volunteered as a doctor at Mission Arlington Clinic and he was instrumental in the the start of the Arlington YMCA. He also worked with finding the land where the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine campus is located today. He also taught a wine chemistry course at UTA for 9 years. Bobby is survived by the wife of 66 years, Shirley Lee Smith of Pantego, TX, daughter Jeanne Hamilton and husband Lawrence of Pantego, son Steven Smith and wife Patricia of Kennedale, daughter Lisa Smith White of Pantego, grandchildren Aaron Hamilton (Tiffany) Adam Hamilton (Wendy) Laura Fitzwater (Dale) Jon Smith (Kelly) Jacob Smith (Rhea) Spencer White, and Jenna White. Greatgrandchildren Julianna, Hannah, Connor, Joshua, Benjamin, McKenna, Noah, Ian, Austen, Maddie and Jonah. He also leaves behind numerous patients whose lives were impacted by Dr. Smith. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mission Arlington. Wade Family Funeral Home 817-274-9233