William Smith, Sr.

Born in Lawrence County, TN on March 23, 1922

Departed on March 3, 2012 and resided in Nashville, TN

SMITH, William Richard, Sr., Age 89, Born on March 23, 1922 and died on March 3, 2012. Mr. Smith was a veteran of WWII 1943-1945 and was in the invasion of Normandy. He was recalled to the Korean War 1950-1951. During his life he was a member of Third Baptist Church, Haywood Hills Baptist Church, Tusculum Hills Baptist Church and Crievewood Baptist Church. He served as a Sunday School teacher, R.A. Leader and Deacon. During his life, Mr. Smith worked in many professions. As a child, he worked on the family farm in Cheatham County. As an adult, he worked as a jeweler at C.B. Peterson Co., and at Swiff and Co. Meat Packing. He also helped his son establish Rebel Hill Florist. His last job was Landscape Supervisor at Opryland. He was part of the planning and designing of the parks flower beds and trees. He retired from Opryland in 1988. He was a member of the American Orchid Society and the Orchid Society of Middle Tennessee where he served as secretary and president. He was an avid rock collector and loved creating jewelry and things with his rocks. Mr. Smith was a loving and true husband, father, grandfather and friend. Preceded in death by his parents, William Zechariah Smith and Harriett Elizabeth Eden Smith. Survived by wife of 62 years, Ellie Ruth Hooper Smith; sons, William Richard Smith, Jr. Kathy; and David Lowell Smith; grandchildren, William Richard "Rich" Smith III and Molly Kathleen Smith. The life celebration service will be at 1pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 with Rev. Michael Aiken, Dr. Frank Nash and Paul Koulakov officiating. Pallbearers: Doyle Vantrease, Roger Whitley, David Allen Whitley, Lee Parish, Paul Koulockov, David Miller and Clyde Cutrer, Jr. Interment at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens. Visitation, 4-8 pm on Tuesday and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at HARPETH HILLS FUNERAL HOME 9090 Hwy 100, Nashville, 615 646-9292