Robert Alford Smith Jr. age 89 of Sanford, passed peacefully surrounded by family, on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at UNC Rex in Raleigh.  He was born on September 16, 1934, son of the late Robert Alford Smith Sr. and Nessie Mae Tippet Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Betty Ann Smith.  Robert enjoyed working on electrical and mechanical things, history, being outdoors, and loved spending time with his grandkids and rocking his great grandbabies.  He was a US Navy Veteran and graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1962 from North Carolina State University.  He worked with the NCDOT as a District Engineer in Durham, which he retired from in 1989.  Robert was a Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor, Licensed General Contractor, Entrepreneur, Farmer, Forester, Consultant Civil Engineer, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Great Grandfather, Grandfather, Father, and Husband.  He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Collier Smith of the home; Son, Robert Sterling Smith and wife Shelby Roghelia Smith of Raleigh, NC; Daughter, Tanya Smith Cullum and husband Richard Lee Cullum of Sanford, NC.  Grandchildren, Dalton Lee Cullum, Lauren Cullum Sebold and husband Jacob Evan Sebold, Kayla Lynn Smith, Dylan James Cullum, Krista Smith Moody and husband, George Austin Moody, and  great-grandchildren, Micah Evan Sebold, Ashton John Sebold, Shelby Rae Moody, and Robert Harrison Sebold.  The family will receive friends on Thursday (2/1/2024) from 6-8pm at the Smith Funeral Home in Broadway, NC.   Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:00pm Friday (2/2/2024) at the Atkinson Family Cemetery in Elizabethtown, NC.   In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial gifts be made to the Baptist Children's Home of North Carolina, PO Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361 or by calling 1-800-476-3669 to make a gift by telephone.  Online condolences can be made at www.smithfuneralhomebroadway.com  Arrangements are by the Smith Funeral Home Broadway, Inc.