William Andrew 'Bill' Smith

William Andrew "Bill" Smith, 63, of Othello, died Sunday, July 22, 2007, at Avalon Care Center.

Bill was born on April 22, 1944, in Providence, R.I., to William A and Ruth (Menard) Smith. He graduated from high school in Providence in 1962. While attending high school Bill began an electrician's apprenticeship with The Greenville Rhode Island Finishing Company.

He enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserves and in 1964 was drafted into the U.S. Army. Bill served two tours of duty in Vietnam, earning a Purple Heart for his conduct there. He received an honorable discharge and returned to the finishing company as a journeyman electrician.

In 1969 Bill moved with his entire family to Longview, Wash., where he and his father founded a Motor Rewind Company. Due to his father's poor health the business closed and Bill moved around working as an electrician for several firms until he settled in Rainier, Ore., working for Crown Z., as a mill electrician. The mill closed in 1979 and Bill went to work for St. John's Hospital in Longview, Wash., where he worked as a maintenance electrician for several years.

While there he met Annie Futrell, they married on Sept. 5, 1986. He and Annie moved to Othello to be by family. Due to an industrial accident earlier in Bill's life he was unable to work after 1993.

Bill had many passions throughout his life. He flew a small plane as a young man, and played drums in a rock and roll band with his brother. The band made a record and at one point was the opening act for the Jefferson Airplane. While working as an electrician Bill also started his own excavation company that he worked on the side. He was proud of doing refinishing work on classic cars, especially a late 60s Ford Mustang that he rebuilt from the frame up for a friend.

He had also built two houses from the ground up and had remodeled several including the house he and Annie lived in. Bill enjoyed classic rock and roll music as well as jazz. He was a classic movie buff, enjoyed studying the history revolving around WWII and was seldom seen on the farm without his companions Zeus the dog and Screwball the cat.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, he is survived by his wife Annie of Othello, his mother Ruth Smith of Port Angeles, Wash.; his sons, William Smith III and wife Angela of Longview, Steven Smith and wife Missey, also of Longview, and Paul Mount of Spokane; his daughters Mary Smith and Sara Smith both of Longview; his two brothers Richard Smith of Lake Stevens, Wash., and Steven Smith of Port Angeles, Wash.; nine grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A time for final visitation has been set aside at Stevens Funeral Chapel, beginning on Friday, July 27 at 4 p.m. and concluding at 7 p.m. A celebration of Bill's life will be held at Stevens Chapel on Saturday, July 28, at 10 a.m.

The family invites you to view this obituary, light a candle for Bill and sign the guest book online at stevensfuneralchapel.com.