Obituary: William J. ‘Willie’ Smith, 74, Bardstown
WILLIAM J. ‘WILLIE’ SMITH
William J. “Willie” Smith, 74, of Bardstown, died Friday, May 23, 2014, at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville. He was born Aug. 24, 1939, in Bardstown. He was the president of Smith Brothers Distributing in Bardstown.
Smith was a distributer of Anheuser-Busch beer, a prominent business man, a 1957 graduate of St. Joe Prep and a graduate of St. Catharine College who attended Western Kentucky University. He served in the National Guard and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
He was also a member of Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, the Nelson County Beef Cattleman Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Kentucky Malt Beverage Council board, the KMBC Benefits Trust board, KMBA PAC board, a past KMBA president, a longtime member of the National Beer Wholesalers Association, past president of the Kentucky Beer Wholesalers Association and Malt Beverage Education Corporation board member. He was an avid collector who loved being with his grandchildren, gardening, feeding birds, and going to the farm.
He was preceded in death by his parents, B.L. “Butcher Bill” and Sylvia Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Patsy Forsee Smith of Bardstown;
five daughters, Helen (Mike) Filiatreau of Cox’s Creek, Rebekah “Becky” Smith of Mooresville, Rachel (Ken) Briney of Bloomfield, Challon Smith and Suzanne (Michael) Spalding, both of Bardstown; one son, Jay (Angela) Smith of Bardstown; two sisters, Mary (Bob) Wilson of Buckner and Ginny (Dave) Horlander, both of Bardstown; five brothers, Rapier (Violet) Smith, Bert (Joyce) Smith, and Frankie (Lucy) Smith, all of Bardstown, Tommy Smith of Aurora, Colo., and Pat (Cecilia) Smith of Bardstown; 11 grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephew and great-nieces and great-nephews; and Jane Eigelbach, whom he thought of as a daughter.
The funeral is 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral with burial in the church cemetery. The Rev. Bill Hammer will officiate with the Rev. Joe Batcheldor concelebrating.
Visitation is 2–8 p.m. Monday, May 26, 2014, and 10 a.m.–12:15 pm Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at Barlow Funeral Home in Bardstown.
Memorial contributions may go to the Crusade for Children, Barktown Rescue or the Nelson County Humane Society.
Barlow Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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