Willie J. Smith

Willie J. Smith, 68, of Davenport, passed away Sunday, January 18, 2015 at Unity Point Trinity in Bettendorf. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM Saturday, January 24, 2015 in the Runge Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the mortuary. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Willie Smith Memory, Wells Fargo Bank, 5309 N. Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52806. Online condolences may be made at www.rungemortuary.com.

Willie was born on September 30, 1946 in Homer, LA, the son of Elijah and Beatrice Louise (Smith) Smith. He moved to Rock Island, IL in 1956 and attended school graduating from Rock Island High School in 1963. He was united in marriage to Shirley Dawkins on April 10, 1999. He had a son, Anthony Smith, from a previous marriage. He loved spending time with his family, friends, grandchildren, and their two dogs, Pepper and Jetta, and loved listening to Tupac and Tech Nine. He loved to mentor young men and give them advice.

Willie worked for Hughes Aircraft in California, Nichols Aluminum in Davenport, Isotech in Illinois. He also worked part time at Advanced Auto in Davenport and Walmart. He helped the elderly with lawn care and snow removal in his final job at Candlelight in Home Care Inc. and also on his own.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Smith, Davenport; son, Anthony Smith, Florida; daughter, Renae (Darryl) Smith, Davenport; son, Michael Holt, Davenport; sister, Gloria Faye, Rock Island; special cousin, Val Carroll, Monmouth, IL; special nephew, Bennie Smith, Riverside, CA; two nieces; ten grandchildren; six great grandchildren and a host of many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family would like to thank the nurses at Trinity for their wonderful care.