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SMITH -- William Davis (Bill) Smith, age 76, died suddenly and unexpectedly at home on Saturday, October 25, 2008 in Albuquerque, NM. Bill was born in Sunflower County, MS on November 19, 1931 to William Clarence Smith and Catherine Roberts Smith. He graduated from Sunflower Agricultural High School and Delta Community College, then received his Bachelor's Degree from Mississippi Southern University. After graduating, his asthma necessitated a drier climate, so he moved to Roswell, NM to begin his teaching career. One of his favorite stories was of his arrival as a "southern boy" from Mississippi in New Mexico and being taught to eat enchiladas by the mother of the wonderful family with whom he lived in Roswell. Bill moved to Albuquerque to begin working on a Master's Degree at the University of New Mexico in 1955. He taught at Mark Twain Elementary School. Soon he met Sara Dawn Mitcham, a teacher at Hawthorne Elementary. They married in 1956. In June, 2006 they celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary with family and friends, appropriately at a restaurant serving New Mexican/Mexican food. Their children, Elizabeth (Beth), Virginia (Ginny), and Dwight, brought Bill his greatest pride and joy, together with their grandchildren. Bill Smith was known for his professionalism in his career. After receiving a Master's degree and a Doctorate at the University of New Mexico, Bill worked as a professor at the University of Maryland where he helped implement a new program in Clinical Supervision. The family moved to College Station, Texas in 1972. Bill was a professor of Education at Texas A. & M. University, where he taught classes and worked with student teachers. Returning to Albuquerque in 1973, he began to work jointly with the University of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Public Schools. Later he used his proficiency in research to become an Evaluation Specialist for APS. Bill and Sara Dawn were partners in every aspect of their home and professional lives, with Sara Dawn teaching at Texas A.& M. and becoming a professor at U.N.M. Their professional travels to the Dominican Republic and the country of Chile were highlights of continuing travels to Latin countries where they studied the Spanish language. They worked in, and traveled to, Mexico, Guatemala, and Venezuela. In his many friendships and in his family Bill was known for his wonderful storytelling, his wit, and his delightful sense of humor. Bill was predeceased by his daughter, Virginia Smith-Hopkins. He is survived by his wife, Sara Dawn Smith, his daughter, Beth, his son, Dwight and daughter-in-law, Kim, and granddaughters, Mackenzie and Erin, his son-in-law Jim Hopkins, his grandson, Daniel, his sister, Virginia Moore, as well as cousins Julius Roberts, David Roberts and Patricia Donovan. Funeral Services will be held at Sandia Presbyterian Church, 10704 Paseo del Norte N. E. at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 30, 2008. Pastor Dewey Johnson will officiate. French Mortuary is in charge of funeral arrangements. Cremation has taken place. He fought the good fight. French Mortuary, Inc. 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500 www.frenchmortuary.com
        Published on: Wed October 29, 2008