William Blair Smith Jr.

William Blair Smith Jr. of Houston, Texas passed away on December 18, 2019. He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on October 25, 1926 to William Blair Smith Sr. and Nita Tharese Hewitt Smith. He was married to Marian Welch Smith for 33 years and together they were dedicated to their four daughters and four grandsons. Bill earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and was a member of Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He served in the United States Navy (1942-1944) as a radar technician and later as an electronics instructor. His career as a corrosion control engineer with United Gas Company began in Shreveport, Louisiana, and moved to Houston, Texas where he completed 42 years before retirement.

Bill valued God, family and education. He accepted Christ at the age of 11 and was an active member of the Richmond Plaza Baptist Church while raising the family. Since 1993, he has been an active member of Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Sugar Land, Texas. Bill also enjoyed spending time with family, especially his grandsons in combining two of his great enjoyments hunting and fishing with them at any chance.

Bill had some special friends, including Benny Mumme and Michael Myers, with whom he was very grateful to share a deep camaraderie down at the “Deer Camp” in South Texas. Later in life he enjoyed performing in theater with members of the Brookdale Community.

Bill’s deeply beloved sister Glenda, has been a lifelong loving and instrumental support, especially in these latter years. His greatest attributes were loyalty and service to others, sense of responsibility and dedication to providing a good life for his family – a legacy that continues even after his passing.

He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Sharon Lynn Smith. He is survived by his ex-wife (of 33 years), Marian Welch Smith, sister, Glenda Smith, children, Rana Smith Verret (Randy Verret), Dori Ellen Smith, and Lydia Joy Smith and grandsons, Coren Frankel, Austin Frankel, Kimon Giomassis and Philip Giomassis.

Honored to be named as Pall Bearers are:

Benny Mumme Coren Frankel

Michael Myers Austin Frankel

Ben Mumme Jr. Kimon Giomassis

Mike Harrison Philip Giomassis

Jason Hess Randy Verret