William Charles Smith

William Charles Smith, 93, of Unity Township, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2025 at home.  He was born October 4, 1931 in Greensburg, a son the late Fred and Anna Mae (Sias) Smith.  Growing up in Greensburg Bill sold newspapers on the street corner, carried luggage from the train station for passengers to the Penn Albert Hotel, set up pins at the local bowling alley and worked as an usher at the former Manos and Strand Theaters.  He graduated from Greensburg High School in 1951 and joined the US Navy.  He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa as a radarman during the Korean war.  During his tour he traveled a total of 74,260 miles.  He was honorably discharged in 1955 and returned home and graduated from the former Greensburg Business School with a degree in accounting.  He retired as a manager from Commercial Bank, Pleasant Unity office.  Bill was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Trauger.  He was a member of American Legion Post #515, VFW Post #33, the United Club and life member of Irwin Moose #236.  He was an NRA rifle instructor at his father’s Southwest Greensburg Rifle Range, formerly bowled at Hillview Lanes and golfed in leagues at Valley Green and Norvelt Golf Clubs.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Robert and Paul (Flora Mae) Smith, nephew Robert Frederick Smith, niece Vickie (Smith) Hickle and son-in-law Cory DeFrances.  He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Doris (Snyder) Smith, 2 children, Shawn Smith (Honda) and Dawn “Missy” DeFrances, 7 grandchildren, Shanna DeFrances, Danielle Dunegan (P.D.), Blaise DeFrances (Charlenne), Sage DeFrances (Nicole), Dace DeFrances (Christina), Connor Smith and Colin Smith (Brittany), 9 great grandchildren, Caleb, Mia and Drexel DeFrances, Finn, Shea and Teig Dunegan and Vayda, Graham and Cecelia DeFrances, a brother, Malcolm Smith (Barbara), sister-in-law, Martha Snyder and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.  Friends will be received from 10 AM to 12 Noon Friday at the LEO M. BACHA FUNERAL HOME, INC., 2072 Route 130, Pleasant Unity, at which time funeral services will be held with The Rev. L. Samuel Scheiderer officiating.  Military honors by VFW Post #33 honor guard and entombment will follow in Twin Valley Memorial Park, Delmont.  The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Sandy and the staff at Independence Health Hospice for their compassionate care and support.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 108 Dutch Hill Road, Latrobe, PA  15650 or to St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105.

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