Robert Lee Smith

Long-time forklift dealer Bob Smith was a self-made man with a Southern flair, strong organisational talent and entrepreneurial skills that he demonstrated in many iterative ways. The Stone Mountain resident died on 21 May at age 91.

After numerous achievements in military and civilian positions, Smith opened his own business, Atlanta Fork Lifts Inc, at age 55. He established three full-service locations, kept active until retiring at age 86 and, even in retirement, "was one of the first people at the dealership's main location each morning", says Brett Wood, president of Toyota Material Handling USA.

Smith's son, Lee, is president of the dealership, now Scottdale, Georgia-based Toyota Forklifts of Atlanta, and he added a fourth location. In addition to Toyota, the dealership represents the Hoist, Bendi and Drexel brands.

Robert Lee Smith Sr was born in Kernersville, North Carolina and learned about shipbuilding operations before and during his wartime tenure with the US Navy Seabees construction battalion. Post-war, he performed heavy machinery field repairs for EF Craven Co and developed branch service departments for Wrenn Brothers materials handling company.

Those experiences led Smith to fulfill a dream of establishing his own business. The opening occurred in 1973; by 1977, he was an award-winning Toyota forklift dealer.

Over many years, he provided aid to widows and the destitute through the order of nuns at Our Lady of Perpetual Care in Atlanta.

Surviving are Marion Wrenn Smith, his wife of 65 years; son Robert Lee Smith Jr; and grandchildren Zachary, Renee, Joshua, Adam and Elizabeth.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 550, Atlanta, GA 30345 or Gideons International, PO Box 665, Stone Mountain, GA 30086-0665. Smith died of complications from Alzheimer's disease.