William J. Smith

William J. Smith II (Bill) passed away at Lutheran Home in Toledo, OH on March 14, 2016 after a prolonged illness. Bill was born February 11, 1927 in Toledo, Ohio to Irene and William J. Smith I. His father was a stock broker and his mother was a homemaker. In his early years, Bill attended Gesu Elementary School and then Central Catholic High School. Bill did not complete high school initially but opted to join the Navy when he was only 17 years old. He served as a young sailor on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown until he was discharged in 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, Bill completed his GED and attended Michigan State University where he majored in Poultry Science. After college he married Barbara Ann Tillman and raised 5 children. Although Bill never went into the field of big agriculture, his degree in this field sparked a deep love of agribusiness and nature and he applied this passion to his business, Mary A. Warning Flowers at 100 S. Broadway in Toledo which he had purchased from his aunt in 1954. For over 30 years, Bill focused his tremendous energy on making Mary A. Warnings one of the most successful businesses in Toledo. He expanded the business to include a store at Westgate Plaza and another on Sylvania Avenue. Bill felt a deep commitment to the local communities where he did business, always hiring kids and adults from the neighborhoods to work in his stores. After retiring from the floral business, Bill worked for Myers Fireplace and Patio on Reynolds Ave. where he applied his same commitment to customer service. In recent years, he still enjoyed playing poker with his buddies once a month, visiting his children and grandchildren and his most beloved of passions; watching Michigan State football and basketball. Bill is survived by his children Linda Harrison (Steve) Seattle, WA, Cindy Coffey (James) Santa Barbara, Ca. , Jeff Smith (Toni) Boise, Id, Jody Freeman Waterford, Ct, and Tod Smith (Donna) Perrysburg, Oh. He has eight grandchildren; Heather Moyer, Andrew and Patrick Harrison, Devon and Dalton Smith, Jacob and Nathan Coffey, and Taylor Smith. He has one great-grandchild, Vash Moyer. He also is survived by his two nephews Bernie and Billy Kearney. A Memorial Service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church, 4201 Heatherdowns Blvd. Toledo, OH 43614 at 10 a.m.

William J. Smith

February 11, 1927 - March 14, 2016