EAST LIVERPOOL – William L. Smith, of East Liverpool, passed away suddenly at his home Friday, April 17, 2015. He was 68.

Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, June 21, 1946, he was a son of the late George W. and Mildred Foutty Smith. A Vietnam War veteran, he served with the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1967. In 1969, along with his brother Bernard Smith, he started Smith Oil Company, Inc. and operated the company until his retirement in 1999. He also owns 5 Star Storage in Calcutta.

An avid hunter, he would take advantage of his woodworking and woodturning skills and built his own rifles from scratch. He was a member of the Columbiana County Fish and Game Association, the Tri-State Coon Hunters Club, and was a life-member of the National Rifle Association.

His wife survives at home, Patricia A. Smith, whom he married October 5, 1968. There are two daughters, Jennifer Denuzzio, and her husband Anthony, of New Cumberland, and Kathleen Patterson, and her husband Gregory, of Salineville, as well as a grandson, William Cody Waggoner of New Cumberland.

He is also survived by a sister, Mary Bowman of Florida, and three brothers, Bernard Smith, and his wife LuAnn, of Lisbon, Carl Smith, and his wife Nancy, of Florida, and Robert Smith, and his wife Elsie, of Lisbon.

Friends may visit Monday at the Dawson Funeral Home where the family will be present from 3 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. The Tri-State Veterans Burial Group will conduct military honors.

Following the service, friends and family will gather at the Dawson Family Center for fellowship.