Billy J. Smith

Billy J. Smith



Billy J. Smith, 79, of Palmyra, died on Sunday, October 25, 2009, at a local care facility.

He was born August 9, 1930, in Cave City, Arkansas, the son of the late Cecil Smith and Mary Elizabeth Bray Smith.

Billy retired in 1973 from the United States Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant after 24 years of service. He served in Vietnam and was the recipient of a Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. In 1993 he retired from Civil Service at NASA-Langley as the Assistant Security Chief after 12 years of service. He was a member of the Air Force Security Organization and First Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville. He had also been a member of the American Legion Post 74 for 10 years.

Surviving him are his wife, Elizabeth A. Smith of Palmyra; a daughter, Cheryl Oliver and her husband, Elton, of Scottsville; three grandchildren, Zachary Clark Oliver, William Arthur Oliver and Dora Elizabeth Oliver, all of Scottsville; a sister, Imogene Sharpe of Jonesboro, Arkansas; two brothers, U. L. Smith and his wife, Edna Merle, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Neil Smith and his wife, Eva Jewell, of Arbyrd, Missouri; a sister-in-law, June Cole and her husband, Jim, of Ringgold, Georgia; two brothers-in-law, Stephen Clark and his wife, Nancy, of Nashville, Tennessee, and Bill Clark and his wife, Nell, of Douglasville, Georgia; three special friends, Brad Suter of Charlottesville, Nancy Burr of Charlottesville and Ferlin Roach of Palmyra; several nieces and nephews including a special nephew, Greg; and his faithful dog, Bonnie.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, October 30, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church on Park Street with the Reverend Kimberleigh Wells officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at the Culpeper National Cemetery with full military honors.

The family suggests that any desired memorial contributions be made to the Presbyterian Children's Home, 425 Grayson Rd # 5, Wytheville, VA 24382.

Friends may sign the guest book at www.hillandwood.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.