William Bruce Smith

William Bruce Smith, age 100, went to Heaven from Richmond Place in Lexington, KY, at 8:40 A.M. on Sunday morning, January 20. He was born in Grayson, KY to the late Charles and Mabel Smith. He was preceded in death by six siblings, Dr. Opal Dierkes, Dr. Jim Smith, Marie Rowland, Charles Smith, Beulah Mayfield and Wayne Smith. He is survived by his wife, Nellie, daughter Annette McInnes (Earl) and several nieces and nephews. William graduated from Green Township High School in Greenup, KY, and in ---was inducted into their Hall of Fame. This was a special time when many extended family members came to celebrate with him. He was in automobile sales for many years and was in the top Ford 500 Club for over 20 years. He has earned a number of prestigious awards for his successful sales performance. He enjoyed his work and even worked for a short time after retirement. For 11 years, he served as Sunday School Superintendent for a large, growing Sunday School in Ohio. Throughout his life he has been faithful in church attendance and has made honesty and integrity priorities in his every-day living. He has always been ready to witness to God's saving grace in his life and rarely missed an opportunity to do that. He was a member of Gideons International for over 20 years, and served as Chaplain for a number of those years. He, along with his wife, Nellie, visited prisoners in both the jail and detention center and assisted in the distribution of Bibles in various places. He also spoke on behalf of the Gideons in several local churches. Before his present illness, he served faithfully as a greeter and usher at the Wilmore Free Methodist Church. His primary hobbies have been traveling (reaching 48 states, Canada and Mexico!), golfing and gardening. As for golf, he made his second 'hole in one' at age 90. Most years, he and his wife raised productive gardens and preserved a lot of food for the winter. On his 90th birthday, William and Nellie were both made Kentucky Colonels and he has still proudly worn his cap even in recent months. Until he was age 99, William took no prescription medications and very rarely saw a physician. He had not been hospitalized with any illness prior to this age. A doctor who did see him several years ago asked, 'How have you maintained such good health? His answer was, 'I love the Lord, get lots of exercise and eat a low-fat diet!' The doctor said, 'Whatever you are doing, keep it up!' William's health began to fail several years ago, but he and Nellie were able to enjoy their home together until they were 99 years of age. After his admission to skilled nursing care, Nellie joined him in the same room and they were able to be together again, as they have been for 74 years. Annette and Earl want to express their gratitude for the cards, notes, flowers and visits by the pastor and friends and especially the prayers for all of them during this time of illness. We thank God for William's long life and for the inspiration he has been to family and to those who knew him.

Visitation:
12:00pm-1:00pm Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at Wilmore Free Methodist Church

Funeral:
1:00pm Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at Wilmore Free Methodist Church

Interment:
Reber Hill Cemetery, Circleville, OH, 1:00 pmThursday, January 24, 2013