William G. Smith

We met Bill and became friends with him when we moved into the neighborhood 16 years ago. He never grew tired of telling us stories about his life, and we never grew tired of hearing them. He was a proud descendant of the first settlers in Crosby County Texas and very nearly to his dying day he relished reading accounts of his ancestors´ Texas legacy. He told about signing up when WWII broke out and his service in the Pacific on a naval repair ship; he told harrowing stories of close calls, epic naval campaigns, and witnessing the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jima. He and Mary enjoyed telling about how they met - theirs was an almost-Hollywood tale of love at first sight. And we´ll say it again, Bill never grew tired of telling us stories about his life, and we never grew tired of hearing them. Bill and Mary were part of the Greatest Generation and with their passing, and the passing of that generation, we share a feeling of great loss and enormous gratitude. You were our neighbor and our good friend Bill, and we´ll always remember you.

Thank you for your service, Sir. May you rest in peace.