Billy W. Smith Jr.

Billy was a great athlete and early on was scouted by several major league baseball teams, but his parents thought he was too young so would not sign for him to go. That is when he decided to join the U.S. Air Force. He entered at Lake Charles, LA, in 1952 and retired in 1974 at the rank of Master Sergeant. He served 22 years in the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR), part of the Air Force’s Special Services. As he rose through the enlisted ranks, he served in supervisory and leadership positions at various stateside bases, including Puerto Rico, and an overseas tour at Osan Air Base in Korea.

It was this career field that provided Billy the opportunity to continue his interest in sports. During his time in service Billy became quite known throughout the Air Force as well as other military services for being a great athlete but particularly excelled in fast pitch softball. His oldest son, Billy Ed – and former pro-baseball player in his own right- said, “He made the All-World and All Air Force teams several times, and was really a great hitter. He had to hit the ball far or out of the park because he wasn’t a fast runner,’ he chuckled. His hitting earned him the nickname ‘Snuffy Smith’ and his softball skills were the main reason most of his service time was spent at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, TX. “The base wanted to ensure they kept the top ball player on their team,” chided Billy Ed.

A fellow service member, friend and teammate, Cas Lehmkuhler posted on Facebook,

“.......he and I had some wonderful times together in the USAF. At Lake Charles we were on the same (sports) teams…he was a great friend….I’ll miss talking to him occasionally. I’m sure he’s up there knocking them out of the park already.”

After retiring from the Air Force Billy went to work in 1975 as the Athletic Director for the Department of the Air Force’s MWR Service at Lackland Air Force Base, he served his country another 20 years before retiring from civil service in 1994.

Billy is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carole (Permenter). Being married that long is considered by his family and friends as another ‘Grand Slam’ in his life story. He married his high school sweetheart and then joined the Air Force where he and Carole raised four children. They traveled around the country during his Air Force career and softball playing days. He left a tremendous amount of life stories for his family and friends alike to tell about ‘Pops’, ‘Dad’, ‘Grandpa’, ‘Gramps’, ‘Snuffy Smith’, husband, brother and uncle.

“He came across as a tough son-of-a gun,’ said son-in-law Derek Johnson, “and when you got corrected by him you knew it! But, underneath all that was a kind, generous, loving and intelligent man.”

He epitomized Frances de Sales’ quote: “Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength,” because he was able to provide the necessary balance of those two characteristics - gentleness and strength - throughout his life. It was that balance that from all accounts made Billy a superb gentleman, husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother and a great friend to the many people in his life.

As testament to Billy’s ‘Strong gentleness’ and ‘gentle strength‘ His grandson, Little Billy, posted on Facebook: “Gramps, I don’t even know where to start with the memories….Growing up hearing talks of you lifting a car off a tree in the front yard, how far you could hit a ball, come-to-Jesus talks when we weren’t behaving, busting us for taking your chew and cigars then making us finish them, letting us run around on the base, racing 4-wheelers, shooting guns, blasting those turtles you hated so much for eating your fish, cook outs, spending weeks with you every summer, road trips in the RV……the stories are endless. Always scared for the wrath of grandpa, but you were the best granddad and role model we could ask for. Until I see you again. Gone but not forgotten.”

Other favorite things that ‘Pops’ enjoyed in life were his Ford Fairlane, the Spurs, Rocky Patel cigars and chewing Red Man tobacco.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents.

He is also survived by: Sister, Eunice Burris, from Quitman, LA; his four children: son, Billy Ed and wife Patricia, Kennedale; daughters Kathy Lynette Johnson and husband Derek, San Antonio, and Vickie Carole Smith and Rich of San Antonio; and son Bruce Cole (The Favorite) , College Station. Seven Grandchildren: Grandsons, (Billy Ed, Jr.) Little Billy, Tyler Paul, Bruce Cole, Jr. and wife Natalie, and Scott William and Granddaughters Dawn Michelle, Ashlee Rose and husband Wyatt Duffin, and Chrystine Carole and husband Javi Arellano; Three Greatgrandchildren: (Robert E. Williams, III) Tre , Lilly Ann and Lauren Ann , a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and many other family and friends. He is also survived by his beloved dog ‘Rusty’ and kitten ‘Lulu’.

He was truly a family man and everything about his life story epitomized that. If he could have uttered a final thought, the most fitting might be this Thomas Jefferson quote: “The happiest moments of my life have been the few (many) which I have passed (spent) at home in the bosom of (with) my family.”

To honor and respect his love of family and life we are giving thanks for Billy, having lived, having served our country and for being a part of our lives. His Memorial Service with military honors is on Saturday, January 9th at 3 p.m. at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home located at 6321 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX 78238. A Celebration of Life will follow.

“Every blade in the field, every leaf in the forest, lays down its life in its season as beautifully as it was taken up.”

- Henry David Thoreau