William F. "Bill" Smith

Longtime resident of Ukiah William F. “Bill” Smith passed away peacefully on February 27th while surrounded by family.

Bill was born in 1927 in New York City to show-business parents. Raised during the Great Depression in San Francisco’s Richmond District, he went on to join the US Navy at 17 and served in the Pacific through the end of World War II. His experience fighting fires and working for the US Forest Service in the 1940s led to a long career in the woods as a professional forester for J.H. Baxter, Crawford, Georgia-Pacific, and Louisiana-Pacific. Retiring in 1985, he enjoyed many years exploring new states, countries, and continents with his beloved wife of 66 years, Billie. Together they stayed close to family near and far while involving themselves in local organizations. Bill devoted his skills and expertise to many groups such as The Sun House, the Historical Society, the Farm Bureau, the Co-op Air Patrol, the V.A., and also helped spearhead the Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project. Decades working in the woods enabled Bill’s remarkable knowledge of Mendocino County’s history and geography: he could name every ridge and gully, who’d ranched it, if and when it had been logged, and when a wildfire came through. His stories were legion and fortunately for us all, Bill contributed some of what he knew to the Historical Society’s journal and to oral histories.

Bill lived out his life in the house he built in 1961 overlooking Ukiah, a place he always loved; his son Bradley’s care and attention made that possible. Bill was preceded in death by his daughter, Leslie Elias, and his dear wife, Billie (née Prosser); he is survived by his sons Kevin (Carol Lageder) of Carlsbad, Bradley of Ukiah, and Douglas (Kate Kordich) of Berkeley, 9 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. His buoyant spirit will be missed by the many people he met over his almost 99 years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Historical Society of Mendocino County or the Mendocino College Foundation.

All who knew Bill are welcome to celebrate his life at the Ukiah Elks Lodge on Saturday, April 18th at 11.