William Edward Smith

William Edward “Bill” Smith passed away Friday, February 27, 2026, in Katy, Texas surrounded by his family. He will be laid to rest at 10:00 am, May 26, 2026, at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Memorial services will be shortly following. Bill was preceded in death by his father Joe Smith, mother Daisy Smith, younger brother Donald Smith, and younger sister Rosalee Smith. He leaves behind his loving wife Rita Smith, only son David Smith, daughter-in-law Karen Smith, grandson Preston Smith, granddaughter Aubrey Smith, and a considerable number of cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to Tunnels to Towers in honor of Bill Smith to support other veterans and their families (t2t.org).

William Edward “Bill” Smith was born January 24, 1939, in Corbin, Kentucky the eldest son to Joseph Franklin Smith and Daisy Marie Smith (Mahan). From an early age, Bill showed an aptitude for math and science and graduated top of the class from Corbin High School in 1957. This is where he developed his love of trains and Pepsi while visiting his father at work in the train yard and the Pepsi delivery truck. Corbin is also where he got his first job working for Colonel Sanders at Sander’s Café. After graduation, he attended Cumberland Junior College and Union College where he studied Mathematics and Science and graduated in 1961. He went on to study for his master’s in education from the University of Kentucky.

Bill was drafted by the Army in June of 1964 in Knoxville, Tennessee because of the Vietnam War. After basic training, he went to the US Army Medical Training Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas where he trained to be a medic and occupational/physical therapist. He was then posted to active-duty service at Fort Carson, Colorado. Bill later transferred to Fort Knox, Kentucky where he was transitioned to Army reserve in June of 1966 after two years of active service. He completed his service and was honorably discharged in June of 1970.

After his transition back to civilian life, Bill took a job at Silver Grove High School in Newport, Kentucky teaching Math, and Science. This is where he met his wife, Rita Hamilton, in 1970 who was also a teacher at the school. Being a man of good character, he stopped to help her when she had an issue with her car and the rest is history. They were married in August of 1971 in Pikeville, Kentucky. Their only child, David, was born in 1972.

He went back to school to get his accounting degree to provide a better living for his young family. In 1973, he took a civilian job with the Department of the Army Tank and Automotive Command in Warren, Michigan. This was a fantastic job to have with a young son that loved climbing on tanks and armored personnel carriers. In 1979, Bill moved his family to Fishers, Indiana when he transferred to the Department of Defense Finance and Accounting Center at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana. He progressed in roles over the years and helped mentor many employees. He retired in 2003 after 30 years working for DOD.

He was a member of Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana for many years and was always willing to do any role asked. During his time there he held roles as a Sunday school teacher, Deacon, and Treasurer. He also served on the Internal Audit Committee of the Indiana Southern Baptist Convention.

After retirement, he consulted for the DOD for a few years until he moved to Houston, Texas to be close to his grandchildren. In retirement he loved watching his grandkids play baseball, softball, football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. He also loved watching them perform at their band concerts. When picking up the grandkids from daycare, he had a shortcut through “old McDonalds” to get ice cream cones.

He loved traveling, especially to Alaska and National Parks. He loved listening to music like Elvis and the Everly Brothers and loved watching the TV show MASH. He loved Olive Garden, Skyline Chili, and White Castle, ice cream, and watermelon. His favorite sports star was Peyton Manning and favorite president was Ronald Reagan.

Even though Bill is no longer with us physically, his legacy lives on in the lessons he taught many of us along the way. He will be missed but never forgotten.