William Donald Smith

William Donald Smith, Jr. (Bill), 87, passed away on March 4, 2017 at The Monarch in Lincoln. The son of William Donald and Claramary (Smith) Smith, he was born 16 Nov 1929 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Bill graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and served in the Air Force. Bill lived a very rich and full life. He was an advocate for the arts and greatly enjoyed his work as a Stephen Minister for First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln. He was a banker, salesman, entrepreneur, avid reader, train enthusiast and lover of conversation, classical music, architecture, serious gourmet cooking, and a good chicken-fried steak. Bill was a singular champion of music in Lincoln. He served as a leader or board member of many music organizations, including Abendmusik at First-Plymouth, Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra, the Nebraska District Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Nebraska Chamber Players, the Meadowlark Music Festival, and the Lincoln Organ Showcase. In 2004, the mayor of Lincoln presented Bill with a "Heart of the Arts" award. He is survived by his partner Marcia Laging Cummings, brother Jack, four sons William Donald III and spouse Tomoko, Winthrop and spouse Corrina, Stuart and spouse Susan, and Sheldon and spouse Lisa Wymore. Bill is also survived by six grandchildren Anne, Eli, Alison, Yuri, Alexandra, and William, and by one great-grandson Yuta Makino. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Richard, and the mother of his children, Mary Alison Treynor Smith, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, to whom he was previously married. They married on April 9, 1955. Memorial donations may be made in Bill's honor to First Plymouth Congregational Church of Lincoln. A memorial service will be held there at 1 pm on April 22, 2017.