William J. Smith

Reverend William Joseph Smith March 23, 1922 - December 23, 2010 COLUMBUS, GA — Reverend William Joseph Smith died Thursday, December 23, 2010 at Spring Harbor Community. He was 88 years old. Reverend Smith was born in Ashland, Kentucky on March 23, 1922, the son of Dr. Samuel C. Smith and Beda J. Smith. During his boyhood, Rev. Smith developed an interest in medicine, often accompanying his father on housecalls in Ashland. But his heart was captured by the sight of early aviation barnstormers with their airplanes. While attending high school, young Smith found part-time work at the local air field and developed a lifelong passion for flying. Upon graduation from Ashland High School, Rev. Smith attended Virginia Military Institute. Following his freshman year and having completed the only course in flight training at V.M.I., Rev. Smith transferred to the University of Kentucky. Commencing fall quarter 1941, Rev. Smith took advanced flying courses at U.K. With an urgency brought on by the events of Pearl Harbor and America's entry into the Second World War, Rev. Smith was commissioned as a 2LT in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the fall of 1942. Following flight training in New Mexico, California, and South Carolina, Rev. Smith was ordered to Australia in October of 1943. Thereafter Smith flew 72 missions in New Guinea, New Britain, the Admiralty Islands, and the Philippines. On February 15, 1944, Smith was shot down, ditched his plane on mile off a Japanese held island, but was rescued by a Navy PBY-5 float plane. The pilot of that plane, Nathan Gordon, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions that day. Smith was awarded the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Purple Heart. Following the war, Rev. Smith continued to follow the Lord's call on his life to be a pastor. He finished his undergraduate degree at Marshall University and graduated from Southern Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky in 1952. Rev. Smith served pastorates at Central Park Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL; Coliseum Place Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA; First Baptist Church of Quitman, GA, and at Rosehill Baptist Church for 17 years. Rev. Smith was the definition of a loving caring pastor and Christ like and friend to all those he knew. His sermons may not be remembered but his loving pastoral friendship will be. In "retirement" years Rev. Smith served as a missionary in Panama and faithfully volunteered as a civilian Chaplain to basic trainees at Fort Benning for 20 years. He was named Civilian Volunteer of the Year at Fort Benning in 1997. He is survived by his two children, Sharon Johnson and her husband, Steve, and Steven D. Smith and his wife, Amelia; by his beloved wife of 60 years, Betty Smith; by ten grandchildren, Jacobs Breedlove, Reid Johnson, Paul Johnson, Allison Laws and her husband, Kyle, Joseph Smith, Samuel Smith, Luke Smith, Austin Childs and his wife, Brittany, Ashley Childs and Andrew Childs; and by two great-grandchildren, Story Childs and Madison Laws. Rev. Smith is preceded in death by his grandson Travis L. Smith. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Columbus Baptist Association or to Rose Hill Baptist Church. A service will be held at 2 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus with Rev. Kip McKee officiating.