Worship Service Sundays at 11 a.m.
Worship Service Sundays at 11 a.m.
We are a Christian church, affiliated
with the
American Baptist Churches
U.S.A.and a member of the
Evergreen Association.
William L. Smelser (Bill
) passed away on
October 8, 2019 surrounded by his children. Born September 18, 1930, to Wiliam
Nye and Lucille Brodie Smelser, he was 1 of 2 children. He met his high school
sweetheart, Patricia J. Herbert, in Emporia, Kansas and the two were married
December 31, 1950. Bill was a graduate of Emporia State Teachers College, but
interrupted his education to enlist in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. His
career included working on the Gemini spacecraft, the Helmet Sight project with
the defense division of Sperry-Univac and eventually retiring as a program
manager with Unisys.
By hobby he was an exceptional wood craftsman and computer wizard. He was a man of principle, a devoted husband and father and the go-to-guy for anything that needed fixing. He was a man of strenght and demonstrated to his family the importance of hard work and integrity. While he may have seemed a little rough on the outside, he loved his family and friends and loved being surrounded by all the wonderful chaos. Bill and Pat cherished the Kansas trips to visit extended family and life-long friends at their high school reunions. Bill was a devoted member of the Bountiful First Baptist Church and its coffee group at Starbucks.
Bill is survived by his children: Shana (Ray) Wahl, Megin Smelser, William P. Smelser and Stephanie Conti (Brad Robeson); 7 grandchildren, Dan (Nikki), Michael (Monse), Ali (Jack), Ian, Shea, Wyatt and Ava and 3 great-grandchildren, Lily, Mia and Mikah. He was preceded in death by his wife Pat, his parents and his sister, Barbara Rice.
