Hobert Cleveland Smith, Jr.

Hobert Cleveland Smith, Jr, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2025 surrounded by his family.  He was born in Coketon, West Virginia to the late Hobert Cleveland Smith, Sr and Virginia Louise Liller Smith.  He was the oldest of 5 siblings and predeceased by one brother and one sister. 

He grew up in Thomas, West Virginia amongst the beauty of Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls.  After high school, he lived and worked in Ohio before proudly serving his country in the United States Army overseas in Germany.  After his service he married and settled in Maryland where he raised a family and spent the rest of his life.  He built a forty plus year career in the printing business with The Goetz Printing Company.  Affectionately known as “Smitty”, his hard work, dedication, trustworthiness and engaging personality saw him move up from the press room floor to Sales Manager and eventually President of the company.  Under Hobert’s leadership, Goetz Printing was consistently ranked as one the “Top 25 Largest Commercial Printers in the Metro Area” by the Washington Business Journal.  He was a parishioner at Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Patrick Catholic Churches and a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus. 

Despite his professional success, Hobert took the most pride and found the greatest joy in his family.  He was a doting husband and father always taking the time to give small gifts or write a special note.  He was an active participant in all of his children’s school, extracurricular and youth sporting events, coaching many of their sports teams through the Catholic Youth Organization.  Consistently putting others first before himself, he treated everyone he met with the utmost kindness and respect.  He enjoyed everything that a country boy would, most especially Bluegrass music, hunting and fishing.  He had a “second act” career at The Home Depot in Silver Spring where he worked for over 10 years to stay active, earning yearly Employee Service Awards.  And in his retirement, meticulously tended to his 5-acre property all on his own until he could no more. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Ann Cianfaglione Smith; his four children Stephanie Denise Smith Miller (Thomas), Steven Patrick Smith (Renee), Elaine Marie Smith Sheahin and Brian Richard Smith; his grandchildren Allison Nicole Miller Daughtry (Zachary), Thomas Gregory Miller, Jr, Kevin Andrew Sheahin, Jr (Shannon), Nicholas Aaron Sheahin (Taylor), Makayla Marie Sheahin; Nicholas Anthony Smith, Michael Vincent Smith, Christopher Giovanni Smith; his great grandchildren Brooklyn Nicole Sheahin, Drew Anthony Sheahin, Vincent Andrew Sheahin and Dominic Craig Sheahin.

Visitation will begin at 10:30am on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Rockville, MD; where the Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00am.  Interment will follow at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Montgomery Hospice at https://montgomeryhospice.org/donate-now/.  

Hobert’s family would like to extend their sincerest thanks and deepest gratitude to his many caregivers from Griswold Home Care and Montgomery Hospice who made his final years comfortable and dignified.  And to the Veteran’s Administration for their outstanding support services.