Dr. William Robert Smith was born on November 18, 1931, in Georgetown, Illinois. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1954 at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois and completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at Marquette University in 1957. He joined the Army as an Officer and went to Fort Sam Houston for basic training before being assigned to his first duty station as a dentist in Korea near the end of the Korean War.
After returning to his stateside assignment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Dr. Smith married Betty Walcher, from Ingalls, Michigan, his college sweetheart, on June 20, 1959. They soon welcomed two children.
When Dr. Smith left the Army, he joined the Army reserves and relocated his family to Tuscola, Illinois and opened a private dental practice. Dr. & Mrs. Smith expanded their family by two more children. While running his dental practice, he also enjoyed being an active member of the United Methodist Church, playing handbells for the church choir, working for the public health clinic, running a farm, raising horses and cattle, gardening, waterskiing, swimming, running, travelling and babysitting his beloved 8 grandchildren with his wife.
As part of the Army Reserves, Lt. Colonel Smith took part in numerous overseas military medical missions to impoverished areas in Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras and Germany. He later joined the Army National Guard and retired as a Brigadier General after 38 years of dedicated service to his country.
Dr. Smith retired from dentistry after 42 years. Dr. & Mrs. Smith moved to Sun City Center, Florida in 2017. His favorite activities were going to the pool, playing card games, going to Vegas and taking beloved bi-annual trips to the Bahamas with his children and grandchildren. In 2023, he was the Honorary Grand Marshall for the Memorial Day celebration in Sun City Center.
Dr. Smith was predeceased by his parents and 6 siblings. He is survived by his wife of 65 years (Betty), 4 children (Kevin, Lisa, Kyle & Loralee) and 8 grandchildren(Sam Smith, Rachel Smith, Audrey Smith, Lydia Smith, Jessica Dembeck, Austin Dembeck, Ethan Schrand and Ava Schrand).
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