A funeral mass will be celebrated for Robert E. Smith, 84, of Lompoc, 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 at La Purisima Catholic Church with Rev. Tom Cook of La Purisima Catholic Church officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara.

Robert was born February 28, 1922 in Morland, Kansas to Russell and Maudie Myers Smith. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and served in the U.S. Marines Corp. on the USS Helena at Kula Gulf, Central Solomon Islands during WWII. On July 6, 1943, the ship was sunk in battle at which time he received wounds as a result with enemy forces. During the war, he was engaged in a total of six battles and retired after 21 years of service with the rank of Captain. Robert began another career and worked for a Department of Energy facility at Rocky Flats in Arvada, Colo. for several years as a maintenance planning supervisor. He moved to Lompoc in 1984 from Arvada and was a sports enthusiast who earlier liked to play cribbage, golf, and enjoyed rock hounding.

He died Sunday, September 24, 2006 at Lompoc Hospital.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Irene Smith of Lompoc; a son, Tim Smith of Lompoc; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Pamela Sue; sisters, Gertrude Piersol, Betty Smith; and brother, Donald Smith.

Visitation hours will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.