Willard S. "Boots" Smith

Willard Samuel "Boots" Smith, formerly of Greensboro, died Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, at Piedmont Crossing in Thomasville after an extended illness. The youngest of four children, he was born on March 8, 1926 in Garner to Edward Marcus Smith Sr. and Flonnie Mae Cope Smith. Tragically, both parents passed away before he was three years old.
Providentially, all four Smith children were able to stay together, coming to live at the Jr. Order Home (American's Children's Home) in Lexington. Boots graduated from Lee H. Edwards High School in Asheville and the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.
He served in World War II, having enlisted in the Navy in 1943 at the age of 17. Boots served on a destroyer, the USS Hilbert (DE842), in the South Pacific and maintained contact with many of his shipmates over the years. He went to Carolina on the G.I. bill after the war. Upon graduation, Boots moved to Greensboro where he proudly worked at Jefferson Standard Life Insurance until his retirement.
Boots maintained a passion for the ocean his whole life. He particularly enjoyed long voyages to other continents. Boots always booked travel on freighters, staying in one of the passenger cabins available on many of such ships. He regaled the family each Thanksgiving and Christmas with stories about the trips he had taken that year, bringing a new album every year full of photographs commemorating his travel. Boots also had a heart for, and had financially supported, orphaned children in Southeast Asia.
He was preceded in death by his brothers and sister, Edward Calvin Smith Sr., Edward Marcus Smith and Elsie Smith Banks.
He is survived by nieces and nephews Eddie Smith Jr. of Greenville, Lynda Smith Swann and Jo Ellen Banks Edwards of Lexington, Greg, Steve and Peggy Smith of Texas and Ronnie Smith of Louisiana.
In accordance with Boot's wishes, a private military service and burial at sea will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the American Children's Home, Hospice of Davidson County or such charity or ministry as the donor feels is appropriate.