William Louis Smith

William Louis Smith, 94, of Stow, formerly of Kent, died Sunday, January 31, 2010, at the Hospice Care Center. He was born January 24, 1916, in Akron, to Park R. and Ruth E. (Flanagan) Smith. William was a veteran of the Merchant Marines serving in WW II. He was a terminal manager and sales representative for Dixie-Ohio Express, Anderson Motor Freight and O.K Trucking. William was a member of the United Church of Christ in Kent, Garden Club of Kent and Kent Elks. He delivered Meals on Wheels for over 20 years. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Florence M. (Rhodes) Smith; son, Mark W. (Lorrie) Smith of Fairview Park; daughters, Bonnie Van Campen of Santa Rosa, CA and Cherie (Wayne) Gadberry of Fargo, ND; ten grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; brothers, James H. (Joan) Smith of Stow, Richard M. (Sylvia) Smith of Kent and Thomas D. (Norma) Smith of Ravenna; sisters, Ruth Ambrose of Wooster, Lutie Mae Burrell of Stow, Dorothy Moore of Lexington, NC, Rita Moore of Bayonet Point, FL, Roseann (Charles) Maurer of Wooster and Jane (Edward) Thomas of Kent. He was preceded in death by his parents, Park R. and Ruth E. (Flanagan) Smith; brothers, Park J. Smith and Robert P. Smith; sisters, Elizabeth May, Paula Kathryn Hausmann and Ellen Virginia Gathings. Calling hours will be held 2-4 and 7-9 PM Thursday, February 4th at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Friday, February 5th at United Church of Christ of Kent Chapel, 1400 E. Main Street, with Rev. Heather Wicks officiating. Burial will be at Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice Care Center, 3358 Ridgewood Drive, Akron, OH 44333.