~~ Wilford Eugene Smith ~~
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Wilford Smith was b. in Anderson, IN, on 2 Sep 1926, to Basil Bryan Smith and Mabel Evaline Keller, reportedly a lineal descendant of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. A graduate of Anderson High School, Wil joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944, shortly before the end of World War II. During his term of service, he was crew chief for military air transport plane that flew between Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany, prior to the Soviet blockade.
Following his discharge, Wil attended Purdue University. On August 2, 1947, he eloped with Mildred Irene Mason in spite of his mother's disapproval. While he was in college, during summer vacations and weekends, he worked for Bob Geeting who was a local farmer. Geeting owned a local appliance store in Anderson. In 1950, Wil received his BA in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue. His first job was with Sheffield Tool & Dye in Dayton, Ohio, followed by a job with Aeroproducts Propeller Company, also in Dayton, a manufacturer of airplane parts. While in Dayton, Wil and his family lived in a house owned by his father-in-law, G.G. Mason.
In 1956 Wil and his family moved back to Anderson, purchasing a home in Evergreen Valley and working for a company there for a short time. A short while later Wil worked for Bernco, a manufacturer that made language lab furniture and training devices, located in Indianapolis. In 1960, Wil moved to Greenwood, IN, but later that year, Bernco filed for bankruptcy. In 1961, Wil was hired by Lockheed Missiles and Space and moved first to Mountain View, California, then to Sunnyvale (in 1964). There he helped design a number of top secret items, including the Discoverer satellite (one of the first American spy satellites), the aiming mechanism for the Hubble Space Telescope, and tiles for the Space Shuttle. Wil also became active in the American Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Toastmasters International (eventually becoming District Governor), the Young Democrats, Santa Clara County Square Dance Association (eventually becoming Governor), and Purdue Alumni Association.
Wil and his family also were active members of a number of Methodist churches. In Anderson, Wil taught Sunday School (5th & 6th grade). From 1961 until about 1992, Wil was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) in Mountain View. While there Wil held a number of positions, including (at various times) Sunday school teacher, youth counselor, treasurer, and lay leader (chairman of the church board). At the time of his death, he was a member of Sunnyvale UMC.
Wil died of cancer in Sunnyvale, California. His ashes are interred at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery near Dixon, California.
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Wilford Smith was b. in Anderson, IN, on 2 Sep 1926, to Basil Bryan Smith and Mabel Evaline Keller, reportedly a lineal descendant of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. A graduate of Anderson High School, Wil joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944, shortly before the end of World War II. During his term of service, he was crew chief for military air transport plane that flew between Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany, prior to the Soviet blockade.
Following his discharge, Wil attended Purdue University. On August 2, 1947, he eloped with Mildred Irene Mason in spite of his mother's disapproval. While he was in college, during summer vacations and weekends, he worked for Bob Geeting who was a local farmer. Geeting owned a local appliance store in Anderson. In 1950, Wil received his BA in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue. His first job was with Sheffield Tool & Dye in Dayton, Ohio, followed by a job with Aeroproducts Propeller Company, also in Dayton, a manufacturer of airplane parts. While in Dayton, Wil and his family lived in a house owned by his father-in-law, G.G. Mason.
In 1956 Wil and his family moved back to Anderson, purchasing a home in Evergreen Valley and working for a company there for a short time. A short while later Wil worked for Bernco, a manufacturer that made language lab furniture and training devices, located in Indianapolis. In 1960, Wil moved to Greenwood, IN, but later that year, Bernco filed for bankruptcy. In 1961, Wil was hired by Lockheed Missiles and Space and moved first to Mountain View, California, then to Sunnyvale (in 1964). There he helped design a number of top secret items, including the Discoverer satellite (one of the first American spy satellites), the aiming mechanism for the Hubble Space Telescope, and tiles for the Space Shuttle. Wil also became active in the American Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Toastmasters International (eventually becoming District Governor), the Young Democrats, Santa Clara County Square Dance Association (eventually becoming Governor), and Purdue Alumni Association.
Wil and his family also were active members of a number of Methodist churches. In Anderson, Wil taught Sunday School (5th & 6th grade). From 1961 until about 1992, Wil was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) in Mountain View. While there Wil held a number of positions, including (at various times) Sunday school teacher, youth counselor, treasurer, and lay leader (chairman of the church board). At the time of his death, he was a member of Sunnyvale UMC.
Wil died of cancer in Sunnyvale, California. His ashes are interred at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery near Dixon, California.
~~ Wilford Eugene Smith ~~
=================================================
Wilford Smith was b. in Anderson, IN, on 2 Sep 1926, to Basil Bryan Smith and Mabel Evaline Keller, reportedly a lineal descendant of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. A graduate of Anderson High School, Wil joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944, shortly before the end of World War II. During his term of service, he was crew chief for military air transport plane that flew between Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany, prior to the Soviet blockade.
Following his discharge, Wil attended Purdue University. On August 2, 1947, he eloped with Mildred Irene Mason in spite of his mother's disapproval. While he was in college, during summer vacations and weekends, he worked for Bob Geeting who was a local farmer. Geeting owned a local appliance store in Anderson. In 1950, Wil received his BA in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue. His first job was with Sheffield Tool & Dye in Dayton, Ohio, followed by a job with Aeroproducts Propeller Company, also in Dayton, a manufacturer of airplane parts. While in Dayton, Wil and his family lived in a house owned by his father-in-law, G.G. Mason.
In 1956 Wil and his family moved back to Anderson, purchasing a home in Evergreen Valley and working for a company there for a short time. A short while later Wil worked for Bernco, a manufacturer that made language lab furniture and training devices, located in Indianapolis. In 1960, Wil moved to Greenwood, IN, but later that year, Bernco filed for bankruptcy. In 1961, Wil was hired by Lockheed Missiles and Space and moved first to Mountain View, California, then to Sunnyvale (in 1964). There he helped design a number of top secret items, including the Discoverer satellite (one of the first American spy satellites), the aiming mechanism for the Hubble Space Telescope, and tiles for the Space Shuttle. Wil also became active in the American Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Toastmasters International (eventually becoming District Governor), the Young Democrats, Santa Clara County Square Dance Association (eventually becoming Governor), and Purdue Alumni Association.
Wil and his family also were active members of a number of Methodist churches. In Anderson, Wil taught Sunday School (5th & 6th grade). From 1961 until about 1992, Wil was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) in Mountain View. While there Wil held a number of positions, including (at various times) Sunday school teacher, youth counselor, treasurer, and lay leader (chairman of the church board). At the time of his death, he was a member of Sunnyvale UMC.
Wil died of cancer in Sunnyvale, California. His ashes are interred at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery near Dixon, California.
=================================================
Wilford Smith was b. in Anderson, IN, on 2 Sep 1926, to Basil Bryan Smith and Mabel Evaline Keller, reportedly a lineal descendant of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. A graduate of Anderson High School, Wil joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944, shortly before the end of World War II. During his term of service, he was crew chief for military air transport plane that flew between Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany, prior to the Soviet blockade.
Following his discharge, Wil attended Purdue University. On August 2, 1947, he eloped with Mildred Irene Mason in spite of his mother's disapproval. While he was in college, during summer vacations and weekends, he worked for Bob Geeting who was a local farmer. Geeting owned a local appliance store in Anderson. In 1950, Wil received his BA in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue. His first job was with Sheffield Tool & Dye in Dayton, Ohio, followed by a job with Aeroproducts Propeller Company, also in Dayton, a manufacturer of airplane parts. While in Dayton, Wil and his family lived in a house owned by his father-in-law, G.G. Mason.
In 1956 Wil and his family moved back to Anderson, purchasing a home in Evergreen Valley and working for a company there for a short time. A short while later Wil worked for Bernco, a manufacturer that made language lab furniture and training devices, located in Indianapolis. In 1960, Wil moved to Greenwood, IN, but later that year, Bernco filed for bankruptcy. In 1961, Wil was hired by Lockheed Missiles and Space and moved first to Mountain View, California, then to Sunnyvale (in 1964). There he helped design a number of top secret items, including the Discoverer satellite (one of the first American spy satellites), the aiming mechanism for the Hubble Space Telescope, and tiles for the Space Shuttle. Wil also became active in the American Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Toastmasters International (eventually becoming District Governor), the Young Democrats, Santa Clara County Square Dance Association (eventually becoming Governor), and Purdue Alumni Association.
Wil and his family also were active members of a number of Methodist churches. In Anderson, Wil taught Sunday School (5th & 6th grade). From 1961 until about 1992, Wil was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) in Mountain View. While there Wil held a number of positions, including (at various times) Sunday school teacher, youth counselor, treasurer, and lay leader (chairman of the church board). At the time of his death, he was a member of Sunnyvale UMC.
Wil died of cancer in Sunnyvale, California. His ashes are interred at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery near Dixon, California.
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