William T. Smith Jr., 94, of Overland Park, KS, died January 6, 2016 at North KC Hospital/North Care Hospice. He was born in Sterling, KS, and grew up in Dighton, KS, attending public school there. Bill was the son of William T. and Lola B. Smith (Thirlwell).

He graduated from Kansas University School of Journalism in 1948 and worked as a newspaper reporter/printer for several newspapers. In 1968, Bill took the job of director of the KU Printing Service and in 1976, was appointed by Governor Bennett as director of the State of Kansas Division of Printing, which he served until his retirement in 1987.

Bill was married to Ida Roehl in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a cryptographer in campaigns in Europe. He and Ida were the parents of Margo Smith and William T. Smith III. Bill is preceded in death by Ida (1998) and Bill III (2004). He married Francis A. Smith (Zimmerman) in 2003.

Bill is survived by wife, Francis Smith, daughter, Margo Smith (Robert Boland), daughter-in-law Jan Smith, granddaughters, Lilli Boland, Kara Gerwin (Torey), Anna Napolitan (Mike), grandson, Ben Gerwin, brother, Eugene (Pat) Smith, along with many nieces and nephews.

Services

A Memorial service will be held at Amos Family Funeral Home 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas at 1 p.m., January 24, 2016.

Contributions

Contributions may be made to:

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

1725 Holmes St.

Kansas City, MO 64108