William B. Smith

WASHINGTON?William B. "Bill" Smith, 86, of Washington, passed away at 1:00 a.m., Saturday, December 29, 2012 at Washington Christian Village. Bill was born on September 16, 1926 in Tiffin, Ohio to Fred A. and Georgia Bushong Smith. He married Marjorie Witschi in Washington on October 31, 1947. They celebrated 62 years of marriage prior to her death on October 9, 2010. Among those surviving are two sons, Dennis Smith of Columbia, South Carolina and Gary (Pam O?Brien) Smith, of Washington; seven grandchildren, Kevin, Adam, Tony, and Katie Smith and Brittany, Melissa (Brent) Janssen and Aiden O?Brien and four great grandchildren, Grayson and Ensley Smith, Bella Wilson and Oliver Janssen. He was also preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters. Bill was a veteran of World War II, where he had served in the U. S. Army in the Philippine?s and earned the rank of Corporal. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Philippine Independence Ribbon. Following the war, Bill went to work for Caterpillar. He retired in 1985 after 38 years with Caterpillar and last worked as a crane operator in Building X in East Peoria. He was a member of St. Mark?s Lutheran Church where he had served as an usher for more than 40 years. He was also a member of VFW Post 9016 in Washington and CRC. Bill loved spending time with his family, every chance he could and especially loved the family poker games. Funeral services for Bill will be held on Wednesday, January 2, 2012 at Mason-White Funeral Home with Pastor Dick Hanson officiating. Burial will follow in Glendale Cemetery with military rites accorded by the U.S. Army. Visitation will be Wednesday morning from 9:30 to time of service. Memorials for Bill may be directed to either St. Mark?s Lutheran Church or Methodist Hospice.