William
William Reuban Smith Iii
William Reuban Smith III (Bill) died on January 18 in Roanoke, Va.
He was born on February 9, 1923 in Carlisle, Ky., the son of Mary Curry Smith and William R. Smith Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ruth Smith, daughters Kathy Barton and husband Jeff of Roanoke, Va. and Susan Culpepper and husband Robert of Columbus, Ga., four grandsons-Tyler Shelton, Will Shelton and wife Kim, Wesley Culpepper and Patrick Culpepper, and one granddaughter Kristen Barton. He is also survived by brothers Tom Smith and wife Gail of Russell, Ky. and Bob Smith and wife Noelle of Grand Junction, Co. and is predeceased by his parents and a sister Mary Curry Stull.
Bill graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. in June, 1945, and served in the Navy in World War II. He was then employed by Union Carbide in Oak Ridge, Tn. as a nuclear physicist before being called back into active duty in the Mediterranean during the Korean War. He ended his active duty as a Lt. Commander and joined the nuclear facility of Babcock and Wilcox in Lynchburg, Va. where he was also commanding officer of the Naval Reserve. He became the Nuclear Advisor to the Captain of the Nuclear Ship Savannah on its first five transAtlantic voyages. Bill was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and served as Minister of the Eucharist. He was an avid golfer with three holes in one and member of Oakwood Country Club. He was also President of the Lynchburg Exchange Club, Treasurer of the Poetry Society of Virginia, President of the Piedmont Literary Society and his poetry has been published in the Poetry Society of Virginia Anthologies and several other publications including his own book "The Prodigal Poet". He and his wife Ruth moved to Roanoke in 2003.
A memorial service will be held at Peakland Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va. at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 21 with Dr. Steve McNeely officiating. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association, Peakland Baptist Church, or Gentle Shepherd Hospice Charities.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of South Roanoke Nursing Home and Gentle Shepherd Hospice for their wonderful care.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.
He was born on February 9, 1923 in Carlisle, Ky., the son of Mary Curry Smith and William R. Smith Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ruth Smith, daughters Kathy Barton and husband Jeff of Roanoke, Va. and Susan Culpepper and husband Robert of Columbus, Ga., four grandsons-Tyler Shelton, Will Shelton and wife Kim, Wesley Culpepper and Patrick Culpepper, and one granddaughter Kristen Barton. He is also survived by brothers Tom Smith and wife Gail of Russell, Ky. and Bob Smith and wife Noelle of Grand Junction, Co. and is predeceased by his parents and a sister Mary Curry Stull.
Bill graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. in June, 1945, and served in the Navy in World War II. He was then employed by Union Carbide in Oak Ridge, Tn. as a nuclear physicist before being called back into active duty in the Mediterranean during the Korean War. He ended his active duty as a Lt. Commander and joined the nuclear facility of Babcock and Wilcox in Lynchburg, Va. where he was also commanding officer of the Naval Reserve. He became the Nuclear Advisor to the Captain of the Nuclear Ship Savannah on its first five transAtlantic voyages. Bill was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and served as Minister of the Eucharist. He was an avid golfer with three holes in one and member of Oakwood Country Club. He was also President of the Lynchburg Exchange Club, Treasurer of the Poetry Society of Virginia, President of the Piedmont Literary Society and his poetry has been published in the Poetry Society of Virginia Anthologies and several other publications including his own book "The Prodigal Poet". He and his wife Ruth moved to Roanoke in 2003.
A memorial service will be held at Peakland Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va. at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 21 with Dr. Steve McNeely officiating. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association, Peakland Baptist Church, or Gentle Shepherd Hospice Charities.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of South Roanoke Nursing Home and Gentle Shepherd Hospice for their wonderful care.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Reuban Smith Iii, please visit our flower store.
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