Bobbie Holloway Smith of Fallbrook, California |1943 -2024

In loving memory of Bobbie Holloway Smith, born at home near Timpson, Texas on September 22, 1943; died at home in Fallbrook on February 12, 2024 at the age of eighty attended by the warm embrace of loving family members.

Bobbie spent her early years in East Texas before moving to Shreveport, Louisiana in junior high school.  In June 1958 a new boy moved into her neighborhood.  She welcomed Larry Smith into her life when she was fourteen and he was fifteen.  They were friends for several years before their friendship blossomed into romance while both attended Louisiana Tech University. Bobbie and Larry celebrated their 60th anniversary last September.

As long as she could remember Bobbie wanted to be a school teacher. She achieved her dream even though it was not always easy considering the nomadic life of being the wife of a career Air Force officer.  At one point she held teaching credentials from two states and the Department of Defense School System. Although she served in positions as assistant principal, principal, and district office administration, she always answered "teacher" when asked what her occupation had been. As she neared retirement, she asked and was granted reassignment back to the classroom she loved so much. After retirement she volunteered at Friends of the Fallbrook Library book store and as an officer on the board of the local division of the California Retired Teachers Association until she had to give them up for health reasons.

While Larry was serving in Viet Nam, Bobbie decided to return to Louisiana to be near family and teach in a previous school district. Not realizing it ahead of time, she was about to become part of education history.  In 1970 after years of litigation delays, Louisiana faced court-ordered desegregation.  She was assigned to one of the first integrated classrooms in the State. She recalled it as one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in her career, telling humorous as well as tragic anecdotes of how she navigated the school year.

Bobbie embraced her role in the Air Force family. She always made sure her daughter had her support in adapting to new homes and schools.  She loved the camaraderie and was elected president of the Officers' Wives Club in two different assignments.  She and her family took advantage of travel opportunities wherever they were stationed, but her favorite was the three years they were in The Netherlands.  They lived in a small Dutch village where their daughter played with neighborhood children and to this day remembers some Dutch words. Living there also provided a base for travel throughout Europe. She even managed a trip to Russia.

Preceded in death by her father, Vernor W. Holloway and her mother Christera Alford Holloway. Survived by her loving husband Larry P. Smith, brother Gerald W. Holloway(Delores), daughter Laura A. Popp, three grandchildren, Christopher(Pauline), Olivia, and Harrison, two great grandchildren  Jackson and Salwa.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers you consider making a contribution in Bobbie's name to your preferred charity.

We will miss you, Nana.