William Smith, 85, Life-Long Cape Charles Resident

June 4, 2014

William H. Smith, 85, husband of Anne Lambertson Smith, passed away June 3 at his residence. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 5, at Cape Charles Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Elizabeth A. Lutz and the Rev. Jeff Conrow.

He is survived by Anne, his wife of 53 years; son, Steven D. Smith and his wife Christy Fugate Smith; granddaughter Palmer Elizabeth Smith; grandsons William Wade Smith and Henry Fugate Smith; nephews Russell P. Dunton and his wife Kim, all of Cape Charles; H. Bruce Lambertson and his wife Violet of Eastville; two nieces, Brenda E. Dunton of Cape Charles and Pamela L. Parks of Eastville; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his son, William H. Smith Jr.; his sister, Phyllis S. Dunton; and brother-in-law, H.J. “Herky” Lambertson Jr.

A life-long resident of Cape Charles, Mr. Smith was born May 21, 1929, to the late Harold Charles Smith and Hilda Wilson Smith at their home on Madison Avenue. He was an active Boy Scout and attained the rank of Eagle. Following graduation from Cape Charles High School, he attended Virginia Tech before transferring to Richmond Professional Institute and later entering the United States Marine Corps. After completing training at the U.S. Naval Air Training Command, Pensacola, FL, he was designated a Naval Aviator. He served overseas in Korea and Japan toward the end of the Korean Conflict, retiring from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1966, with the rank of Captain. After his tour of active duty, Mr. Smith resumed his studies at Richmond Professional Institute, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree.

Bay Marine Supply Inc., Cape Charles, and the William H. Smith Coal Company were his first business endeavors. For 10 years he was employed as Pilot for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. In 1978, he and his wife became partners in a family business known as “The Laundry Basket, LLC”, which he continued to manage until his death.

He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Cape Charles Cemetery Board, member and past treasurer of American Legion Post 56, former member and past president of the Cape Charles Lions Club, and a 12-year member and vice-chairman of the Cape Charles School Board.

Woodworking and coin collecting were his hobbies. In his youth, he built a racing boat in the backyard of his Madison Avenue home, and later in life he designed and built model boats, the most recent being “The Chesapeake Bay Boxstern.” If one was lucky, they might have a tide clock he made, a whirl-a-gig, or a wooden pendulum clock he designed. His greatest love was flying, which began when he got his pilot’s license flying at the Old Cape Charles Airport.

He put as much perfection into all he built, into his hobbies and his flying, as he did into the life he lived. To his grandchildren, he will always be their “Mr. Fix It Pop Pop” with whom everything was possible.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, c/o Ida Mae Robins, 23089 Carr Lane, Cape Charles, VA 23310; to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Eastern Shore, 165 Market St., Suite 3, Onancock, VA 23417; or the charity of one’s choice.

Condolences may be sent to the family at foxandjamesfh.com.

Arrangements are by Fox & James Funeral Home, Eastville.

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