William L. Smith

William L. Smith, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, formerly of Avalon, Missouri, passed away on Friday, September 30, 2011 at Morningside Center, Chillicothe, Missouri. Bill was born the son of John and Bertha (Volk) Smith on July 23, 1920 in Springhill, Missouri. He was a 1940 Chillicothe High School graduate. On August 1, 1946 he was united in marriage to Grace Marjorie Halladay in Suffield, Connecticut where they resided until moving to Avalon, Missouri in 1947. Marge preceded him in death on December 27, 2007. Bill was a farmer all of his life. He also served in the Navy in World War II from 1944-1946. After the war, he worked for Pratt Whitney. He is apart of the Chillicothe Roy L. Burkett VFW Post 858 and also a member of the United Methodist Church in Hale, Missouri. He is survived by three sons, John Smith and wife Brenda of Trenton, Missouri, Jim Smith and wife Rose Mary of Katy, Texas, Jack Smith and wife Janet of Columbia, Missouri; one daughter, Susan Smith of Kirksville, Missouri; five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marge; three sisters, Rachel Smith, Helen Wiegand, and Dollie Bowles; and one brother, Rex Smith. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe, Missouri. A family visitation will be held Monday, October 3, 2011 from 6:00p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe. Friends may call the funeral home on Monday from 12:00 noon until 9:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hale United Methodist Church and can be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, PO Box 47, Chillicothe, MO 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.