William Smith

William T. Smith, 72, died at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at Kobacker Hospice House in Columbus, Ohio. He was born on July 15, 1937, in Junction City, Oregon, to Helma Helen and Andrew Armintis Smith. He married Mary Leona Houser on Sept. 2, 1961 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Smith earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the Ohio State University and completed all work for a master's degree in plant pathology at the University of Idaho. He worked as a plant pathologist and was involved in pesticide research before joining the U.S. Postal Service, where he worked as a rural mail carrier for 15 years until his retirement in 1999. He served actively in the U.S. Air Force for four years (January 1955 to October 1958). He was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 24 years, the Elks Club in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and the Escapee RV Club. He is survived by his wife, Mary; two children, son Abbott (Laura) Smith of Seattle, Wash.; daughter Kricket (Eric) Schwartzberg of Cincinnati, Ohio; brother Chuck (Margaret Ann) Smith and sister Charlotte (Stanley) DeHart and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Garth Smith, and his adopted son, Michael Miller. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, June 25, at First Christian Church, 24 West State Street, Athens, Ohio. Memorial donations may be made to John Clem Recovery House, 8044 Dairy Lane, Athens, OH 45701 or Kobacker Hospice House, 3595 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH, 43214. Arrangements are by Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home where you may send the family a message of sympathy at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com.