William B. (Bill) Smith was born April 4, 1925 in Cleburne, Texas to Oran and Ettie Smith. He died in Midland, Texas on Sunday, August 24, 2008. He lived in Cleburne until he graduated from high school in 1942. He then attended TCU and graduated from there in 1946. While attending college he met Dorothea, the love of his life, to whom he married in December 1947. Upon graduation in 1948, he and Dorothea served as educational Methodist missionaries in La Paz, Bolivia for 2 & ½ years.They returned in 1950, and moved to Jal, New Mexico where Bill taught school and coached Junior High football. The name of his team was the "Jal Rinky Dinks". He was extremely successful in coaching and loved teaching junior high students the fundamentals of football and life. While living in Jal, Bill attended the University of Texas in Austin during the summers to study law. Bill became a lawyer in 1957 and they moved to Midland. From 1960 to 1964 he was the Assistant District Attorney for Midland County, Texas, working under the tutelage of the late Judge Joseph Mims. In 1965, he opened his own law office. He was a member of the Midland County Bar Association (President 1980-1981); the American Bar Association; the State Bar of Texas; Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Texas Trial Lawyers Association; Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (Associate Director 1985-1986); National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Texas Bar Foundation.He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothea, both of his parents, his brother, Oran, Jr. and his sister, Mary.He is survived by two nieces, Anne Posner and husband, Jeff of Huntsville, Alabama and Mary Cathleen Handlin of College Place, Washington. He leaves behind many close friends, former students, fellow lawyers and Judges.Burial services for family and close friends will be at 10:00am, Friday, August 29, 2008 at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland. Memorial services will be Friday, August 29, 2008 at 11:00am, at First United Methodist Church in Midland with Dr. Tim Walker and Larry Hood, Home Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Honorary pallbearers are the former members of the 1950-1958 Jal Junior High "Rinky Dink" football team.His family and friends would like to thank Manor Park, the wonderful people at the Vogel Center and Bill's personal caregivers for the excellent care given to him. Bill was also unselfishly served and assisted in his last years, by his devoted former legal secretary, Brenda Kendall, who tended to his every need.In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Manor Park Vogel Center, 2208 N Loop 250 West, Midland, TX 79707; Home Hospice, 901 W Missouri Ave, Midland, TX 79701; Midland College Foundation, 3600 N Garfield St, Midland, TX 79705; or Midland Memorial Hospital Foundation (Pediatrics Unit).Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
