Willard Bill McKinley Smith
March 6, 1917 - April 6, 2009
Obituary
Willard ‘Bill’ SMITH
92, On April 6, 2009, we lost our Dad. He now joins our Mother in heaven. Mom died December 21, 2002. She was 82.
Dad was born in Minnesota March 6, 1917. The family moved West and our Grandfather A.O. Smith got a job at Boeing in 1931. Dad hired in at Boeing in 1939. He became an engineer and met our Mother, Anne, at Boeing and they were married in 1945. They built our house in Normandy Park in 1951 and they both lived out their lives there. Dad retired from Boeing in 1979 with 36 years of service.
Dad loved to hunt, camp and spend a lot of his retirement time selling tools and Coleman lanterns at the Midway and Starlite Swap meets. He was also a long time member of the Washington Arms Collectors. He is survived by two sons Mike and Doug and a daughter Paula DeMarks.
We’ll miss you Dad.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Please sign the online memorial guestbook at www.bonneywatson.com.
My deepest Sympathy, Thoughts and Prayers to all the family.
Bill was a wonderful husband and father. I will always remember the visits I had with him and his great sense of humor.
“HUGS” from GINA
My thoughts and prayers go out to all, goodbyes are always hard but I try and view this as now two wonderfull people are now joined back together in a higher place Cheek to Cheek smiling down from above with a lantern lighting the path that they walk :. Hold tuff, as he will be missed by all.
Hey Doug and family, my deepest condolences at the loss of your father. He was a great guy and an absloute hoot as well! Your dad always wore a smile and always had a “colorful” joke to tell. Some of my fondest high school memories were of visiting your home and spending time with your folks. I remember your mom and dad being so hospitable, funny, interesting, and interested in talking to me. I also remember that your folks always seemed to be very happy and very much in love with each other. Please let me know if there will be any services. Best Regards, Pete
WE HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT ABOUT BILL AND HOW HE WAS DOING OVER THE YEARS. IT WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO VISIT WITH HIM AS HE VISITED HIS PARENTS, AND THEN LATER IN LIFE JUST HIS MOTHER, WHO LIVED JUST ACROSS THE ALLEY FROM OUR HOME.
SINCERELY,
CORA ASHMORE OF SHORELING, WA; AND SON RICK ASHMORE OF TACOMA, WA.