William Smith

William Smith of San Diego, husband of Arletta Jean (Long) Smith, was called home to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday, April 20 at the age of 93.
Born in New Mains, Scotland on April 13, 1921, he was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Johnson) Smith. They moved to Pittsburgh, PA. and Bill attended schools in Wilkinsburg, PA.
He served in the 97th Infantry Division of the United States Army and received the Bronze Star on March 1, 1943 and February 28, 1946.
He lived in Cleveland and Boston before settling in San Diego after his retirement from Cigna Insurance Company.
The most singular experience of his life was when he was born again in November 1937 at the age of 16.

For most of his life he was affiliated with God’s assembly and was an elder in the San Diego Gospel Hall fellowship.
His surviving family includes: his son Glenn Eric Smith (Jacquelyn) of Magnolia, MA, Donna Lee Ritchie Whitaker (Mark) of Grass Lake, MI and stepson Samuel J Long (Denise) of WA; by grandchildren Penelope Clark of MT; Matthew Smith of MA, Ethan Smith of ME, and Eric Smith of NC; Chad Ritchie and Jody Wasielewski of MI; 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. He leaves his sister Suzette MacPherson of Somers Pt, NJ, and sister-in-law Frances Smith of Darlington PA, plus several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his first wife Marion (Seale) Smith, and by his brother Robert Smith.
Officiating: Mr. Dan Harvey of Yuma, CA and Mr. Tom Baker of Alhambra, CA

Favorite Bible verse of Bill’s:
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:14-16





For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. I Thessalonians 4:14-17