Willis Smithson

Willis A. "Bill" Smithson, age 92 of Kansas City, Missouri, died on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the North Kansas City Hospital in North Kansas City.

Graveside services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, October 29 at Greenwood Cemetery in Sauk Centre with Rev. Kevin Born officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Willis Alvin Smithson was born December 21, 1916 in West Point, Iowa to William and Mayne (De Kable) Smithson. He was united in marriage to Leota Taylor, who was a graduate of Sauk Centre High School, on August 19, 1967.

He was an active member of Antioch Community Church for 40 years.

Survivors include his sister, Ila May Lewis; niece, Christina Swinehart; two nephews, Gene and Brian Lewis of Eugene, Oregon; his extended family, Otis and Ann Rash, Deana Shafer all of Parkville, Missouri, Sheila Hunnell and Jim Osburn of Kansas City, Missouri; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Leota on March 31, 1990.