Dr. William D. Smith

Dr. William D. Smith was born in Chicago, IL in 1928 to Carl B. and Libuse (Kolar) Smith. He was followed by sister Gail C. Smith and brother Charles K. Smith. As a kid, he enjoyed Boy Scout outings, interesting books, singing around Mom’s piano, basketball, geography, history, summers with his Sebesta cousins at the family cottage in Antioch, Illinois, and canoeing in the Boundary Waters (Ely, MN) with brother Charlie and friends. He had many part-time jobs over the years, including as newspaper boy, working at a dairy farm during World War II in Merrill, Wisconsin, as a Sears delivery helper where he learned to navigate the city, and as a “crown man” at Continental Can Co. He boasted he never missed a day of work and never turned down an hour or overtime.

He graduated from Calumet High School, a proud product of the Chicago Public School System. Bill earned his Bachelor’s degree at Western Michigan Teachers College (Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI) while a manager in college athletics and hitchhiking across the Midwest and beyond. While earning his Master’s degree in education at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he enjoyed singing in choral programs. In 1951, he called himself up and served in the U.S. Army for 21 months during the Korean War, building air fields with the Army Corps of Engineers. He was honorably discharged in 1953.

He began teaching as an Eighth Grade Teacher at Lane School in District 126, Alsip, Illinois under Superintendent Vera Ruff, his mentor. He excelled as an educator, sharing with his students his passion for history, geography, and for reading. He eventually became a Principal and later served as Superintendent for 31 years at School District 126. He was a founding member of the Eisenhower Co-op for special education. He sang with the Morgan Park Gleemen. Bill also was an adjunct college professor at St. Xavier’s University in Chicago, Lewis University, Nova University, and Moraine Valley Community College.

Bill attended St. Margaret’s of Scotland Catholic Church in Chicago’s Morgan Park, bowling on the Father/Son bowling league where he got to know his future father-in-law Dr. Edward P. “Doc” Bialecke. Bill started dating Rita Bialecke, a Chicago Public School teacher who lived across the alley in Brainerd, Chicago. Nine of their first ten dates were Blackhawks games and the other was a ballet, showing Bill’s wide range of interests. Bill and Rita were married in 1960. They joyously welcomed twin daughters Kristy and Kathie into their home in Chicago and later moved to Oak Lawn where daughter Lisa joined the family.

In 1976, Bill ran his first open all ages spelling bee at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Oak Lawn, starting a long tradition that spread to other communities and states. After moving to Orland Park, he began 40 years of annual Orland Park community spelling bees. Bill was known as a Spell Master.

Bill loved sharing his knowledge of geography and history, taking his family on vacations to nearly all 50 states and Europe, teaching the girls to read maps, quizzing them on states and capitols, and writing postcards during meal breaks. Bill continued exploring in his retirement, adding the grandkids to the adventures. He and Marge Doody enjoyed many wonderful times, including trips to Colorado and Florida.

Bill wrote letters, real letters, longhand, sent by postal mail, in really challenging handwriting. In retirement, he continued his passion for teaching by taking his interactive “Map Man” geography lessons on the road to classrooms and nursing homes across the country. A believer in service to others, Bill was active in his church, his community, and his profession, and believed all the world’s a classroom. He never stopped learning or teaching.

For the past 20 years, Bill was blest by a special relationship with Virginia Kwiatkowski. They kept each other active and young at heart, mall-walking, attending senior dances, concerts, and family parties, and traveling together across the country and Europe while they were able.

Bill was preceded in death by daughter Denise M. Smith, son Douglas D. Smith, father Carl B. Smith, wife Rita B. Smith, mother Libuse K. Smith, sister Gail C. Smith and brother Charles K. Smith. He is survived by daughters Kristine H. Freeman, Kathleen M. Sullivan (Bruce) and Lisa M. Smith; by grandchildren Michalene Albert (Joseph), William De Young, Jacob Freeman (Sara Huebschen), Tina Van Naarden (James), and Elizabeth Sullivan; by great-grandchildren Alexis De Young and Simone Albert.

Limited capacity visitation on Friday November 27, at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, (708) 636-1193 (masks required) Please call to make your reservation. Family-only funeral on Saturday November 28 with Zoom participation available.

To get Zoom link for the Bill Smith funeral Sat 10am central, please send request to:

[email protected]

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Presbyterian Church in Orland Park Rita Smith Memorial Fund at (708) 448-8142.

In consideration of the safety of our guests and associates, Blake-Lamb Funeral Home will adhere to the current gathering restrictions in the state of Illinois, which allow 10 or fewer guests at services. Proper social distancing must be practiced and all guests are required to wear face masks at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.