Billy Lewis Smith

1925 - 2016

Billy Lewis Smith, 90, passed away Thursday, May 5, 2016, at a local hospital. Graveside service: 11 a.m. Wednesday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, followed by memorial at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 521 W. Pipeline Road, Hurst. Visitation: The family will receive friends 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Lucas Funeral Home, 1321 Precinct Line Road in Hurst. Billy was the third son and sixth child of Lewis Melton and Vada Wisdom Smith. He was born Nov. 5, 1925, and grew up in Wolfe City. He left school early to join the Army Air Corps during World War II and served honorably in the South Pacific - New Guinea, Philippines and Japan - where he was part of the occupation force. In 1946 he returned from Japan to civilian life in the DFW area. Later, he went to work for American Airlines for 37 years as a supervisor in the freight department where he met his beloved wife, Dorothy. They had three kids. Billy and Dorothy enjoyed traveling to many countries throughout the world. He was the historian in the family, had involved himself in the genealogical field and had published books. Billy was preceded in death by his loving wife of 49 years, Dorothy, in 2003 and his beloved daughter, Debra, in 2015. Survivors: Sons, Lewis and Wesley; sisters, Sue, May and Margarete; sister-in-law, Francis; daughter-in-law, Melchora; grandkids, Steven, Kerry and Athena; great-grandkids; and cousins.