William R. Smith

1929 - 2021

William R. (Bill) Smith

William R. (Bill) Smith, age 92, passed away on September 2, 2021, enveloped in the prayers of his family. A son of Charles and Genevieve Smith, Bill was born in NYC on April 8, 1929.

Raised in one of God's little slices of Heaven, Brooklyn, NY, Bill attended Midwood High School and for a year during his family's southern sojourn, attended Miami High School. A keen dancer, Bill was also a star quarterback for both schools' football teams in the late 1940's. He was an avid Brooklyn Dodgers fan, and had fond memories of the familiar environs of the treasured Ebbets Field. Bill later transferred his unrequited fealty to the Mets.

Bill honorably served in the US Army shortly after the conclusion of the Korean War. While on leave attending a dance in New York, Bill and his pal gazed upon a pretty young lady who, after his buddy declined to approach her, Bill stepped forward and asked to dance, only if he could lead. Thus began the romance of Bill and Sally lasting more than 57 years. Their marriage in 1955 at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers was followed by Bill's return to post at Fort Sheridan, Illinois with Sally, where they spent their first frigid winter as newlyweds, an experience which Sally commented on for decades.

Bill, Sally and their two older sons moved from Yonkers to Valley Cottage in 1961, to take partake of the Tappan Zee bridge migration, and to contribute to the remarkable growth of Rockland County. Bill & Sally raised their family of three sons, occasional dog, injured bird, squirrel, prolific gerbils and several surreptitiously imported garden snakes and frogs, with love and adventure. Bill 'volunteered' his sons 'the army way' for many projects at their Valley Cottage home, and assiduously tutored them in the art of manual labor, while also inculcating a love of reading, sports, (including coaching baseball teams) and music.

In addition to his ardor for 'a good walk spoiled' (i.e. golf), in the early 1970's Bill also took up the game of tennis, and later during his fifth decade of life, began skiing.

With God given insight to people's temperament and predisposition, and a convivial manner full of optimism, Bill loved sales and excelled in representing metal fabrication manufacturers with many business entities needing the right parts for their products. Bill established W.R. Smith & Sons, Inc., his 'fourth child,' and contributed in his own way to the historic post WWII growth of our nation's economy.

Bill's love of his life, Sally Margaret Brennan Smith, predeceased him in 2013. He is survived by his son William F. Smith and his wife (Bill's devoted daughter-in-law) Barbara Russ Smith, his son Craig S. Smith and his loving companion Lenore, his son Donald K. Smith, his adoring grandchildren William C. Smith, Jacqueline Musselman & Jacqueline's husband Ricky, Christopher R. Smith and Chris' companion Jennifer Nicola, his step-grandchildren Mariel Rondinelli, Kathryn Comfort and Ryan Stack, and his great-grandchildren Franklin Harvey Musselman & Sally Harper Musselman. Bill's brother Charles predeceased him. Bill is also survived by his supportive nephews and nieces.

In recent years, Bill was known for his very comprehensive prayers for all family members as part of grace before dinner, thus fortifying the patience and humility of his fellow (hungry) diners. His family now continues prayers for Bill and Sally, as she and the Angels now welcome him home.

Visiting hours will be on Thursday, September 9th from 4pm - 8pm at the Hannemann Funeral Home located at 88 South Broadway, Nyack, NY. A mass of Christian burial follows on Friday, September 10, 2021, 10 am, at St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church located at 36 West Nyack Road, Nanuet, NY.