WILLARD SMITH

SMITH, Willard "Bill" Sanders, died of leukemia on March 17, 2013 at Retreat Hospital. He was born in St. Paul, Minn. on August 22, 1922 and moved with his family to Detroit, Mich. when he was still an infant. Bill attended Highland Park, Mich. schools and on a senior class trip to Williamsburg he saw the College of William and Mary and fell in love with the college, enrolling in the Class of 1944. After returning from three years of service in the U.S. Army during World War II, he graduated from the College in 1947. He always remained loyal to the Class of 1944, and served for 14 years as the class reporter for the Alumni Magazine. At William and Mary, Bill joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and served as it's president. He was also president of the Backdrop Club, which presented popular student varsity shows. Bill started his career in advertising in the mail room of a New York advertising agency in 1948 and moved to the radio and television department when television was in its infancy. It was there that he became friends with Jane Spencer (also a William and Mary graduate) and they married in 1950. Bill joined an agency in Detroit in 1954 and eventually founded his own agency in the city's financial district. Bill and Jane also opened and ran a "Mr. Tennis" shop in the same area. The Smiths always wanted to return to Virginia and found the opportunity when Bill and Jane operated "Travelhost of Richmond." They lived in the Fan and ran the magazine from an office on Allen Avenue. Upon retiring, he took up painting in the classes of the Museum of Fine Arts. He enjoyed painting landscapes and portraits and it became a major part of his life. He was active on the board of the Fan District Association and served as its treasurer. Bill and Jane were active alumni at William and Mary, initiating the Sandy Kelly Alumni Tennis Tournament at homecomings, serving on many committees and chairing the Sir Robert Royal Legacy Society for 13 years. They were awarded the Alumni Medallion for service and loyalty in 1986. Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jane; by his daughters, Laurie Smith Dowdeswell of New York City, and Susan Smith Soufer of Paris, France; son, Douglas of Melbourne, Australia; and his grandchildren, Adam, Jake, and Lindsay Smith, Alexander, Nicolas and Maxime Soufer, Ellie and Dan Smith and Jesse Dowdeswell. He was predeceased by his son, Sandy Smith of Philadelphia; and by a granddaughter, Shana Dowdeswell. The family will hold a private graveside service in Danielson, Conn., on March 29. A memorial celebration will be held in Richmond in the near future. Memorial donations may be made to Grace and Holy Trinity Outreach Program or the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary.

This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.