Robert Morgan Smith, born May 29, 1927 passed away, in his sleep at his Irvine home early morning of Friday November 8, 2013 at the age of 86. A native of Dale, Indiana RM bore witness to the history of aviation being born eight days after Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic. His father, Luther Claude (1884-1948) was a railroad man who understood his son's passion even if his mother, Bertha K (1908-1974), did not. Working as a teenager loading and unloading salt from trucks for thirty eight cents an hour, RM saved enough money to log enough airtime and qualify for his pilot's license. He announced his achievement to his family by dropping rocks and used batteries from an airplane above their residence.

Bob graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in June of 1945 and immediately enlisted in the US Army where he attained the rank of sergeant prior to his discharge. With countless numbers of Army and Navy pilots returning to the post-war civilian workforce RM embarked on the dangerous but exciting career of crop-dusting. Early each spring he would begin dusting crops in Texas and head north to the Canadian border, by mid-summer he would head back South finishing in Texas. Spending the fall and winter in North Vernon, Indiana he made a living teaching flight as well as taking civil engineering classes at a local college in hopes of landing an airline job. In 1949 he was hired at the age of twenty-two by American Airlines, within five years he was promoted to Captain. As he said on many occasion, "I knew these were the best of times; I was a captain, we were on the verge of the jet age and the flight attendants were single and beautiful". He married one such flight attendant, Georgia Provance, in 1958.

Based in Chicago he became a father three times; Jay Morgan was born in 1964 and identical twins, Lisa Caye and Laura Leigh in 1966. With three children in diapers he took an office job as Manager of Flight in 1966 and advanced to Area Director of Flight until 1984. He left that position in order to return to flying the line and enjoy the perks of his seniority. Moving to Irvine in 1984 RM joined the John Wayne Tennis Club to pursue his hobby as well as transferring his base to LAX where he flew to Maui in the winter and Europe in the summer. He retired, as mandated, on his sixtieth birthday in 1987. In retirement he continued to travel, visit friends and family until he was physically unable to do so. At that point, everybody visited him.

RM is survived by his wife, Georgia, three children, six grandchildren and his sister, Mary Lee. His tough exterior, gentle interior and love of life will be missed by all that knew him. For details on internment and services please contact jaymorgansmith@gmail.com.