It is with great sadness that the family of William Theodore Smith, Jr., announces his transition from this life after complications of chronic kidney disease on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at the age of 79 years old.  He was born in Festus, Missouri on December 28, 1940 to William Theodore Smith, Sr. and Eva Virginia (nee Clay) Smith.  The Smith family moved to East St. Louis, Illinois, when William was eight (8) years old and resided many years on Missouri Avenue.

William retired as the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Regional Manager of the United States Department of Agriculture, December 2002 in Springfield.  He began his career as a food program specialist in 1978 in East St. Louis, IL.  Before joining the FNS, he worked in a variety of roles, including being a caseworker for the Illinois Department of Public Aid.

William attended Hughes Quinn Junior High School and East St. Louis Senior High School, graduating in 1957 at the age of 16.  After attending classes at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) for two years, he joined the army in 1959.  William served full time in the military until 1962 and received an honorable discharge in 1965.  Since education was always important to him, he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at SIUE.

William will be lovingly remembered by his children, Andre Smith, Cynthia Smith, Kimberly (nee Smith) McDaniel and Yolanda Ross.  William will also be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Morgan McDaniel, David McDaniel, Lakeisha Ross, Markeisha Williams, by his brother, Jeffrey (Kristi) Smith, his sisters, Nola Mae (nee Smith) Phillips, Sonya Smith and Angela (nee Smith) Brown and by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  William was predeceased by his parents and sisters, Diana (nee Smith) Logan and Gail (nee Smith) McClellan.

Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of William to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016, https://www.kidney.org/.