GEORGE WILLIAM "BILL" SMITH ~ Class of 1959
April 19, 1941 - November 21, 2008



George William "Bill", 67, aka Mr. Fix It passed away on November 21, 2008 at Riverside Nursing Home in Centralia. He was born April 19, 1941 to William H. and Rebecca J. Ewing Smith in Denver, CO. He lived most of his early life in Richland and attended Richland schools, Columbia Basin Community College, and graduated from Washington State University with a major in Forestry. He was a member of the Southside United Protestant Church in Richland.

At 16 years of age, he started spending his summers fighting forest fires for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and after college went to work for the DNR as a Forest Management Forester. George was in the Washington State National Guard for 6 years starting in Aberdeen and ending in Olympia. He later worked as a Personnel Manager for the DNR and eventually retired after a 30-year career with Washington State. He worked several part time jobs after his retirement.

His interests and activities included Alpha Zeta Fraternity, Order of DeMolay, Society of American Foresters, Boy Scouts, Sea Explorer Ship 453, gardening, and Caret Cancer Prevention Study. It was amazing how George could manage to fix just about anything, and always with a smile and a ready laugh.

On July 23, 1966, he married Diann Marsh in Hoquiam. They met at the Washington Department of Natural Resources in Montesano.

Survivors include his son, David Smith (Giovana) and daughter, Diann Lewallen (Teddy); three wonderful grandchildren, Jessica, Amanda, and Rebecca; brothers, Robert "Tom" ('60), Ted ('66), Don ('68), and Ed ('79); also numerous nieces and nephews. His parents preceded him in death.

A memorial service was held Sunday, December 7, 2008 at the Masonic Center in Tumwater followed by a reception at his home