William Alexander "Bill" Smith

Bill attended East Mecklenburg High School and met his future wife, Annette Biggers, in a 12th grade English class. After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and married Annette in June of 1953. After four years in the Air Force, he attended Clemson University, where he received an Electrical Engineering degree. Bill then worked for Douglas Aircraft and for the remainder of his career was a Professor of Electrical Engineering at UNC-Charlotte. Upon leaving the Air Force, he remained in the Air Force Reserves for a total of 33 years, retiring as a Colonel. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and friend and was loved by his many students over the years.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Annette. Those left to remember Bill are his daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Fred Little; son and daughter-in-law, Tedd and Susan Smith; granddaughters, Alex Kneen and her husband, David, and their children, Rowan and Bastion; Mindy Black and her children, Daniel Noonan and Emma Brown; Carly Smith and Katie Little.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 pm Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at McEwen Funeral Service-Mint Hill Chapel, 7428 Matthews-Mint Hill Road in Mint Hill, North Carolina, with a service to celebrate Bill’s life following at 2:00 pm in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Charlotte Memorial Gardens with full military honors.

The family offers a special thanks for caregivers, Ginger Parker, Olivia Grasty, Julia Prillaman, Teresa Edmonson and the staff of Grace Ridge Retirement and Hospice.

To honor Bill’s love of education, please consider making a donation to Faith, Hope and Love, Grace Covenant Church, 1800 South Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28203.