Bill Payne Smith
August 23, 1926 - March 2, 2017
 

STEVENSVILLE, MI - Bill Payne Smith, 90, of Stevensville, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Caretel Inns of Lakeland. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, March 11, 2017, at 2:30 P.M. at Fairplain Presbyterian Church, 210 W. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor, with Pastor LaVerne Davenport officiating. Light refreshments will follow in the fellowship hall. Friends may visit with the family from 4:30 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. on Friday, March 10, 2017, at the Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fairplain Presbyterian Church, Community Food Pantry at Fairplain Presbyterian Church or Hospice at Home. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Bill was born on August 23, 1926, to Tommie Lee & Ercil (Claude) Smith in Memphis, TN. He was a graduate of Riley High School in South Bend, IN, where he played football, basketball and ran track. He attended Butler for two years, graduated from Indiana University and earned a Master's degree from Michigan State University. He was a veteran of WWII serving in Europe with Detachment “A” 8th Photo Tech Sqd. of the US Army Air Corp.

Bill was a life member of the American Legion Stevensville Post #0568 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Benton Harbor Post #1137. He was also a member of the Elks St. Joseph, MI. Lodge #541.

He married Thelma M. Wentzel, the love of his life, on August 28, 1949, in the Ridgedale Presbyterian Church in South Bend, IN. They have three children: Marilee (Gary) Woodworth of Ann Arbor, MI, David Harold (Sandy Grooms) Smith of Baltimore, MD, and Wendy (Chris) Minor of Mattawan, MI. They have five grandchildren: Peter (Cheryl) DeLuca, Rose DeLuca (David) Gollnitz, Ellen (William) Childress, Jacob Minor, and Nicholas Minor; and five great-grandchildren: Nathan DeLuca, Eli DeLuca, Celia Gollnitz, Audrey Gollnitz, and Cedar Childress; sister, Linda Brost of Crown Point, IN; nephew, Tony Brost of Crown Point, IN; and many cousins in Tennessee. Bill worked for Studebaker Corp., Singer Sewing Machine Company, South Bend Toy and retired from Whirlpool Corp. after 28 years of service. He served eight years as St. Joseph Township Clerk. During his service on the Twp Board, the Twp installed municipal Water & Sewer, established a Police Dept. and built a new twp hall and two fire stations. Bill also served on the Lake Michigan Water Line and Sewer Treatment Authority, the Twin City Sewage Treatment Authority and the Twp. Parks Department. He was also a member of the Berrien County Building Authority.

During his many years of service to his community he coached and managed Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball teams. He served his church, the Fairplain Presbyterian Church as a Deacon, Elder and Trustee in his over 55 years of membership. While in Florida he served as assistant Head Usher for the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs. He was president for two years of their 640 unit home Owners Association in Florida. Bill was Treasurer of Hickory Trace Condo Association in Stevensville.

Published in South Bend Tribune from Mar. 7 to Mar. 8, 2017

03.07.2017 djb