Obituary for James Willison Smith III
James Willison Smith III, 88, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 1, 2022 in Nassau, New York surrounded by family.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late James Willison Smith Jr. and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Smith.
He was the husband of Caro Wray Smith, whom he married on June 24, 1961 and shared sixty loving years of marriage.
During the Korean War era, Willison served his country in the United States Army as a Corporal, then earned a MBA from New York University. His career saw him employed as a Mortgage Lender and Commercial Real Estate Developer.
Having grown up on a farm in Collegeville, PA, he always retained enjoyment in being outdoors. For many years he and his children planted and maintained a vegetable garden on his childhood farm. In the 1950s Willison planted evergreen trees, which decades later enabled his family to have a tradition of cutting down their own Christmas tree each year.
Willison took an active role in family life, attending many of his children’s and grandchildren’s activities. Late in life he also traveled to many foreign countries with his wife.
Willison made himself available for conversation, a listening ear, or a time of prayer. Knowing that all he had was given to him from God, he was very generous with his time and resources. He also led through quiet example. As an active church member and elder, he had a heart for missions.
Being skilled around a house for maintenance projects was a strength of his, which regularly kept him busy. Additionally, he enjoyed time spent at a family home in the Adirondack Mountains.
Willison’s greatest desire in life was to seek to know his creator, his God. His was a life well lived.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by their five children: David (Deborah) Smith of Delmar, NY, Ruth Goebel (Jonathan) of Nassau, NY, Jonathan (Kimberly) Smith of Greenville, SC, Andrew (Lori) Smith of Rochester, NY, and Peter (Kristin) Smith of Richmond, MA; nine grandchildren: Elissa Smith, Daniel Smith, Nathaniel Smith, and Emily Smith of Delmar, NY, Anna Goebel and Martha Goebel of Nassau, NY, Thao Nguyen of Rochester, NY, Sinaia Smith and Meryn Smith of Richmond, MA, siblings: Elizabeth Muldrow of Denver, CO, Sarah Hathaway of Auburn, IN, Stephen Smith of Radnor, PA and Phyllis Smith of Louisville, KY, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 1:30 PM at St. Stephen Reformed Church, 249 East Main Street, New Holland, PA 17557.
Interment will take place on Friday, February 11, 2022 at 2:30 PM at Philadelphia Memorial Park, 124 Phoenixville Pike, Frazer, PA 19355.
Memorials may be made to the Willison Smith Memorial Mission Project at St. Stephen Reformed Church, 249 East Main Street, New Holland, PA 17557.
Groff High Funeral Home in New Holland, PA is entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late James Willison Smith Jr. and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Smith.
He was the husband of Caro Wray Smith, whom he married on June 24, 1961 and shared sixty loving years of marriage.
During the Korean War era, Willison served his country in the United States Army as a Corporal, then earned a MBA from New York University. His career saw him employed as a Mortgage Lender and Commercial Real Estate Developer.
Having grown up on a farm in Collegeville, PA, he always retained enjoyment in being outdoors. For many years he and his children planted and maintained a vegetable garden on his childhood farm. In the 1950s Willison planted evergreen trees, which decades later enabled his family to have a tradition of cutting down their own Christmas tree each year.
Willison took an active role in family life, attending many of his children’s and grandchildren’s activities. Late in life he also traveled to many foreign countries with his wife.
Willison made himself available for conversation, a listening ear, or a time of prayer. Knowing that all he had was given to him from God, he was very generous with his time and resources. He also led through quiet example. As an active church member and elder, he had a heart for missions.
Being skilled around a house for maintenance projects was a strength of his, which regularly kept him busy. Additionally, he enjoyed time spent at a family home in the Adirondack Mountains.
Willison’s greatest desire in life was to seek to know his creator, his God. His was a life well lived.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by their five children: David (Deborah) Smith of Delmar, NY, Ruth Goebel (Jonathan) of Nassau, NY, Jonathan (Kimberly) Smith of Greenville, SC, Andrew (Lori) Smith of Rochester, NY, and Peter (Kristin) Smith of Richmond, MA; nine grandchildren: Elissa Smith, Daniel Smith, Nathaniel Smith, and Emily Smith of Delmar, NY, Anna Goebel and Martha Goebel of Nassau, NY, Thao Nguyen of Rochester, NY, Sinaia Smith and Meryn Smith of Richmond, MA, siblings: Elizabeth Muldrow of Denver, CO, Sarah Hathaway of Auburn, IN, Stephen Smith of Radnor, PA and Phyllis Smith of Louisville, KY, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 1:30 PM at St. Stephen Reformed Church, 249 East Main Street, New Holland, PA 17557.
Interment will take place on Friday, February 11, 2022 at 2:30 PM at Philadelphia Memorial Park, 124 Phoenixville Pike, Frazer, PA 19355.
Memorials may be made to the Willison Smith Memorial Mission Project at St. Stephen Reformed Church, 249 East Main Street, New Holland, PA 17557.
Groff High Funeral Home in New Holland, PA is entrusted with the funeral arrangements.