FORT MYERS, FLORIDA
Wilbur C. “Bill” Smith Jr. passed away on October 17, 2011 at Joanne’s Hope Hospice after a long battle with bone cancer. His daughter Melonie, sons Earl and Wilbur (Billy) and daughter-in-law Marilyn were at his side when life left him.
Bill was born April 7, 1919 to Wilbur C. Smith, Sr. and Vera Inez Hall Smith in Fountain City, Knox County Tennessee and grew up in Chattanooga Tennessee. Bill came to Fort Myers in 1942 while serving in the Army Air Force at the Buckingham Base and at the Air and Sea Rescue at Fort Myers Beach, Marco Island and the Panama Canal. Bill was best known for his business expertise, community involvement, downtown redevelopment and his charismatic, humorous personality.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Mary Alice Fohl Smith and sisters Margaret and Betty.
While serving in Fort Myers he met and married Mary Alice on July 3, 1944. She was from a pioneer family whose family had been in business in Fort Myers since the early 1900’s. After discharge from the service he worked from 1945 until 1954 for his wife’s father, John Fohl at Fohl’s Hardware in downtown Fort Myers where he learned business.
In 1954 he and his wife Mary Alice founded Bill Smith, Inc. and initially sold appliances, plumbing supplies, glass and paint and as Bill put it “anything I could sell.” Now, 56 years later, the company has evolved into an appliance and electronics business and is heavily involved in downtown redevelopment. Bill Smith, Inc. is still the leading appliance and electronics retail business in Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties, and The Bradford Block has served as the cornerstone for downtown revitalization.
During his lifetime Bill was admired by his employees, business and civic leaders as well as many citizens with whom he always had time to engage in constructive conversation and give freely of his advice and encouragement.
Bill was the founder of the greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Lifetime Member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board, Chairman of Advisory Board of Fort Myers Port Authority, Founding member of the Horizon Counsel, past member of Fort Myers Downtown Redevelopment Agency and actively involved in preservation of historic property in Downtown Fort Myers, a member of Tropical Lodge number 56, member of ARABA Temple, a supporter of the Imaginarium, member of the Fort Myers Country Club, founding member of Cypress Lakes Country Club, founding member of National Bank of Lee County and a founder of the Downtown Property Owners Association.
He was an avid golfer and enjoyed bowling, tennis, scuba diving, softball and hiking as well as discussing current economic and political issues. Bill and his wife Mary Alice purchased a simple farm house and acreage in the Adirondack Mountains in Elizabethtown, New York, in 1965. He enjoyed renovating and making additions to the home as well as visiting on a regular basis with the many friends he met there. His family still enjoys the property.
Bill enjoyed traveling with Mary Alice to the Adirondacks as well as throughout the United States, Central and South America, Canada, Nova Scotia, the Galapagos Islands, Bermuda, Africa, the Bahamas and Europe. Following Mary Alice’s passing in 1990 he married Ann-Christine (Ankie), and continued to travel frequently and spent time in Sweden where he made many friends.
Bill is survived by his three children, daughter Mary Melonie Smith, sons, Wilbur C. (Billy) Smith, III, (Marilyn) and Earl E. Smith (Mark). Grandchildren Stacey Kristine, Sawyer Charles (Kelley), Zachary Evans (Christi), Ramsey Fohl (Cathy) and Wilbur Charles (Wil) IV. Great grandchildren Hannah Kristine Gavin, Cathleen Elizabeth Gavin, Meriel Viola Smith, Mary Madison Smith, Stella Evans Smith, Axl Leigh Smith, Indy Fohl Smith, his wife Ankie, sister-in-law Betty Ann Fohl Thomas (Mike) and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday October 22, 2011 at the First Baptist Church in Fort Myers. Following the memorial service a reception for friends and family will be held at the Reception Hall of the First Baptist Church where refreshments will be served and give friends and family a chance to remember Bill.
A private service for family members will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to The Salvation Army or Hope Hospice.
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