Robert Worthington Nunnally "Wert" Smith, Sr.

Robert Worthington Nunnally “Wert” Smith, Sr., 71, of Petersburg, VA, passed away Thursday, November 3, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Roy and Virginia Lee Brown Smith, his brother, Robert Blackwell Smith, II, and his nephew, William Roy Smith, II. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Coghill Smith; his children, Susan Smith McKain and husband Scott, Robert Worthington Nunnally Smith, Jr., and Anne Carree Smith-Murray; his grandchildren, Rachel, Brennan, Noah, Bridget, Liza, Jacob, Kathryn, and Mary Beth; great-grandchildren, Trace, Autumn, and Alivia; his sister, Virginia Lee Smith; his sister-in-law, Katrina Jordan Smith; his niece, Lee; his nephew, Stuart, and his great-niece, Ginna. Wert graduated from VCU after attending Randolph-Macon College. A member of Phi Kappa Sigma, he held a life-long loyalty to the Yellow Jackets. Wert loved his community, church, friends, family, and UVA basketball! When he was not spending time at the river cottage or with the Emerald Isle neighbors, you would find him at the 8 o’clock service at St. Paul’s Episcopal, where he was a life-long member. Mondays were time for lunch with his buddies at the Dixie, and Tuesday lunch was always at Kiwanis except when POGO met quarterly. Every third Thursday he was off to Carson to eat and swap lies with the Indian Swamp bunch. Often he would be reading from his extensive collection of World War II literature, especially on the War in the Pacific Basin. Wert was proud of the Smith Advertising Company, which he led for many years, and later Owen Printing Company for whose Dietz Press arm he acted as publisher. At times he led the Petersburg Jaycees, The United Way of Southside Virginia, The Tri-Cities Forum, and The Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. He also helped initiate the Petersburg Sports Hall of Fame. He passionately loved his alma mater, Petersburg High School, especially the inimitable Class of 1963. He was proud to have played a part in the foundation that brought about the renovation of the original PHS building as the new home of the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School. The family gatherings will never be the same without our paterfamilias, but there are a lifetime of stories and memories left to share by a grateful family and many friends. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, November 6, 2016 at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 7, 2016 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with the Reverend Rick Greenwood, Rector, officiating. Interment will follow at Blandford Cemetery. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 110 North Union St., Petersburg, VA 23803, or to the Smith Family Scholarship Fund, c/o the Richard Bland College Foundation, 8311 Halifax Rd., Petersburg, VA 23805. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .