Billy Charles (Bill) Smith

 

Billy Charles (Bill) Smith
Billy Charles (Bill) Smith

Billy Charles (Bill) Smith, also known as “Wild Bill” and “Sweet William”, 84,  of Amarillo, TX passed into the arms of our Lord, Jesus Christ on January 1, 2022.

Memorial Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at First Baptist Church Amarillo, Texas with Dr. Howie Batson officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo, Texas.

Bill was born in Morton, Texas to Charles Grant Smith and Silvia Ray Smith on February 7, 1937. He spent his childhood in Eunice, New Mexico graduating from Eunice High School in 1956. After graduation he enlisted in the US Airforce in hopes of seeing the world; however, he spent all four years from 1956 to 1960 stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base regardless of how often he applied for a transfer.

He married Sandra Boyd in 1958. They had two children, Debra and Kevin (Butch). He later married Patricia Ann Johnson and helped raise her five children. They were married for 28 years until her death.

Bill began his working career at Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1963 and worked his way up to management by the time of his retirement in 1991. He then went to work at Ross Rogers Golf Course for Sherwin Cox where he worked in the pro shop, was a marshal, and retired as a starter (aka official golf course greeter). While working there he met and fell in love with Carol Coffee Hutchens. They just celebrated 23 years of marriage on December 19, 2021.

Bill loved people and he made so many friends through the Khiva Shriners, golf, church, and square dancing with the Pioneer Promenaders. Besides golf and square dancing, Bill enjoyed football and was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles and traveling to the mountains. He was a Master Mason for over 50 years and a member of AT&T Pioneers for over 50 years.

Bill is survived by his wife Carol; daughter Debra Pate and husband Virgil; son Kevin (Butch) Smith; brother James Riley Smith of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; sister Bonnie Rogers and husband Michael of Granbury, Texas; granddaughter Kara Walker Kennedy and husband Chad; grandson Trent Walker; and great-granddaughter Pate Kennedy.

Carol’s children – Cari Norton, Brooke Furrh and wife Donna, Misde Shillings and husband Mark; granddaughters Kresha Martinez and fiancé Miguel Morales, and Audrey Furrh; grandsons Trent Carter, Trace Carter and wife Taylor, Kolton Norton and wife Athena, and Jonathan Furrh; great-grandsons Baux Martinez, Adrian Morales, and Cobin Morales; and great-granddaughter Tilleigh Carter.

Patricia’s children – Charles Moore, Melvin Moore, Cindy Wheeler-Reeves, Doug Johnson and Tanya Hanson, their children and grandchildren.

He loved the Lord, loved life and loved teasing everyone. Bill could remember faces, names and phone numbers. Regardless of where he went, he would run into someone he knew.

Memorial Donations to Khiva Temple Travel Fund, Masonic Lodge or First Baptist Church Amarillo.

To livestream the service, please use this link: http://firstamarillo.org/private

12 Replies to “Billy Charles (Bill) Smith”

  1. So sorry to lose Bill . . He was a champion of a man in my books . . so outgoing and friendly and a smile and hand shake for all those he met and would kid most everybody with his quick wit and his smile . . .My involvement with Bill was on the golf courses at La Paloma and Ross Rogers through the years . . I always enjoyed seeing Bill and visiting with him and both of us kidding around . . Will miss him greatly !!!!

  2. We are proud to have been the ones to introduce Bill and you, Carol, to square dancing with Pioneer Promenaders and later on with Yellow Rockers and to know that you loved it as much as we did. We hated it that you had to resign for health reasons. Robert always enjoyed visiting with Bill at the golf course. We will miss him. Carol, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

  3. I was working for Southwestern Bell as a lineman when Bill was hired and sent out to work with our crew. He and I had a great time working together.

  4. Debra and Kara, we are so sorry for your loss. He sounds like one amazing man! Love, Cindi and Andrew Evans

  5. Dear Carol,
    I only met your Bill one time, but he left a wonderful impression on me. I’m so glad you had so many years together. Please have my deepest sympathies. Please know we are keeping you and all your family in our prayers.

  6. Good bye old friend you will certainly be missed.Your telephone friends will miss your quick wit and great friendship.

  7. I was so sorry to hear that Bill had died. Bill and I worked together at SBC. Bill was an excellent manager, an exceptional employee and a very great help to me. Bill was the first to introduce me to golf and we played together at Ross Rodgers. Bill had a long and fulfilling life in spite of some health issues. I will greatly miss him, but I will never forget the wonderful times we had together.

  8. Billy Charles as we knew him from Eunice was beloved. In fact he was my first crush and Dicks buddy and neighbor. Always fun, ready to help, everyone’s friend, all around great guy! RIPBilly Charles. Hopefully someday we can meet Carol. Our loving thoughts and prayers to all of the Smith family. Thinking of you James Riley and Bonnie. Love Ann and Dick

  9. You will be missed by all Billy Boy! You always had a good time, I remember our times of fun running that golf course, La Paloma! I’m sure the fairways in heaven are better, so until we meet again, we love you Billy!

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