Sumpter, Oregon
William “Bill” Smith, 69, of Sumpter died Sept. 26, 2002, at his winter home in the Tepusquet Canyon of Santa Maria, Calif.
His body was cremated and there was a family memorial service at the Smith ranch.
Bill was born on the family ranch on April 12, 1933, and lived there until his death. He bought his beloved forest in the Sumpter area in 1982 and built his home there in 1998. He also had lived there until a few weeks ago.
Bill was an electrician by trade and wired the first space shuttle at Vandenberg Air Force Base. He was a foreman on the Alaskan pipeline in the 1970s.
He served in the U.S. Navy on the Yorktown carrier and the U.S.S. Rendova. He was a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 413 in good standing for 45 years. He was a recent associate member of the Baker Elks Lodge. He was an active member of the Sisquoc Grange and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ulah and Dorothy Bennet Smith; and his wife of 46 years, Joanne K. Smith.
Survivors include his loving wife of two years, Jan Smith; daughter, Karen Rookhuyzen, and son-in-law, Paul, of Mesa, Ariz.; sons and daughters-in-law, William Jr. and Bonnie Smith of Washington, John and Janeen Smith of Santa Maria, Calif., Joseph and Gloria Smith of Utah, Kenneth and Debbie Anderson of Santa Maria, Roy and Joell Swan of McKinleyville, Calif., and David and Annamarie Swan of Hemet, Calif.; son, Jay Swan, and partner, Laneva Beam, of Eureka, Calif.; his mother-in-law, Jessie Wilkinson of Camarillo, Calif.; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Roy and Charlotte and Paul and June, all of Tepusquet, Ulah and Cheri of Paso Robles, and James of Washington; sisters, Bertha Sherwood and Barbara Elliott of Santa Maria; 28 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Powder River Rural Fire District or the American Diabetes Association.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, October 11, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
