William (Bill) B. Smith, Iii

William Benjamin Smith, III was born September 4, 1944 in Cleveland, Oklahoma. He was the son of William Benjamin, Jr. and Ruth (Comer) Smith. Bill was initially raised and attended school through the sixth grade in Cleveland. In 1956, he moved with his family to Cushing where he graduated from Cushing High School in 1962. While attending Cushing schools, Bill was a member of the Cushing Tiger Baseball team and enjoyed all sports. Upon graduation from high school, Bill attended the University of Oklahoma for a year before enlisting into the service of his country in the United States Air Force on July 22, 1963. After completion of basic military training, Bill attended Radio Intercept Analysis training and was assigned to the Head Quarters 4780 Air Base in Germany for nearly fourteen months. While assigned in Germany, Bill had the opportunity to travel a great deal throughout Europe, the Mediterranean and Turkey. For his honorable service, Bill was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal and the Small Arms Expert Marksman Award. Bill was honorably discharged on July 21, 1967 at Perrin AFB, Texas. Upon completion of his military service, Bill returned to the University of Oklahoma and worked on pipelines during the summer and utilized the G. I. Bill to pay for his education; completing is education in 1971. Bill then accepted a position as a salesman for Zales Jewelry in Sapulpa, later moving to Oklahoma City where he was blessed with the birth of his daughter, Elizabeth Ann. He served as manager for Zales Jewelry for the State of Oklahoma for a few years before accepting a similar position in Anchorage, Alaska. Bill was selected as salesman for the year on two occasions while residing in Alaska; where he flew all over the state to different stores. He later accepted a position as State Manager for Zales in New Mexico; residing in Albuquerque for a few years. After suffering a stroke in 1989, Bill returned to Cleveland and established his home here. For many years he resided with his brother, Jerry who provided help and assisted his care. Following the death of his brother, Jerry in 2007 his local family including Bonita Langley and Darrell Smith and their families insisted in the care of Bill. He moved to the Cimarron Pointe Care Center in February 2011 as he needed additional care. Bill was an avid University of Oklahoma Sooner fan and spent countless hours watching them on televisions. He enjoyed many different sport and could easily be described as a sports enthusiast. He enjoyed traveling and especially enjoyed trips with his family to San Francisco and enjoyed participating in his parents annual trips to Hawaii. He also enjoyed visiting them when they would winter over in the Mission Valley of Texas. He especially enjoyed family dinners and holidays. Billís favorite and most memorable life experience was his daughter Elizabeth and most recently being able to hold his grandson, Jack. He was extremely proud of both of them and especially proud of Elizabethís accomplishments of graduating from Oklahoma State University and receiving her Masterís degree from the University of Oregon. Although just recently having the opportunity to meet his own grandson, Bill had a great relationship with his nieces and nephews and their children and loved being around them. Bill enjoyed his life to the fullest and reflected often that he did life his way. Bill passed from this life, on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at the Cimarron Pointe Care Center in Mannford at the age of seventy. In addition to his brother, Jerry Lynn; Bill was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Ann and her husband, Joel Freuen of Eugene, Oregon; grandson, Jack Freuen of Eugene, Oregon; mother, Ruth M. Smith of Mannford, Oklahoma; sister, Bonita Langley of Cleveland, Oklahoma; brother, Darrell Eugene and Gayla Smith of Cleveland, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews, Lorne and Bryan Langley of Tulsa, Ashleigh Taber of California, Sally Currington of Bixby, Joe Smith of Cleveland, Amber Aquliar of Cleveland, Laura Caldwell of Skiatook and Kaylyn Bowling of Cleveland; numerous great nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends who mourn his passing. Funeral services were held at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Gene Black serving as celebrant. A private burial will follow at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home or online at www.chapman-black.com