William F. Smith

William F. "Bill" Smith, age 88, of New Philadelphia, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 22, 2008, following a brave battle with lung cancer.

Born, August 7, 1919, in Dover, he was a son of the late Fred "Sis" and Sevilla Alleshouse Smith. Bill served with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Idaho and Nevada during the Great Depression, and then enlisted in the United States Navy. He served honorably, receiving the Purple Heart after being wounded when his ship, the U.S.S. Mayo, was struck in a German air attack at the Anzio beachhead. Following his service time, Bill was employed by the Republic Steel Corp., U.S. Ceramic Tile Co., the U.S. Geological Survey and Marlite, from which he retired.

He was a member of the First Christian Church in New Philadelphia, the Ohio State Archeological Society and the Sugarcreek Chapter of the Archeological Society - having always been interested in prehistoric native American lore and artifacts. Bill was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Dover.

Bill was an avid bowler and participated in many leagues over the years. He achieved his ultimate goal of a perfect 300 game in the Men's Class A League at Kinser Lanes at the age of 62. One of Bill's favorite destinations was Las Vegas. He and his wife Helen celebrated both their fiftieth and sixtieth wedding anniversaries there.
Bill was a great fisherman and hunter until his best buddy, his brother Carl, died in 1985. Additionally, Bill was very fond of the hunting dogs that he owned over the years. He was a quiet, reserved man who liked to keep to himself and enjoyed working in his yard and garden.

Bill is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Helen Leggett Smith; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Smith of Canton; brothers-in-law, Dave (Petie) Leggett of Colorado Springs, CO, Norman (Mary Ann) Leggett of Denton, TX, and Richard (Donna) Leggett of Pickerington; many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and his brother Carl, Bill was preceded in death by a sister, Florence Roberts, and by three half-brothers, Frank, Alvin and George Lenarz.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, June 26, at 11 a.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, 246 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia, with Pastor Jim Borton officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Burial Park, New Philadelphia. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard in Dover. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 25, 5-8 p.m. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Bill, please visit the funeral home's Web site and click on obituaries.

The family suggests that contributions in Bill's memory be made to the Salvation Army, 301 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, OH 44622, or Hospice of Tuscarawas Co., 201 W. Third St., Dover, OH 44622.

Toland-Herzig, New Philadelphia
330-343-6132
www.tolandherzig.com