William H. Smythe

William H. Smythe, 81, of 302 2nd St. NE, formerly of Beloit, Wisconsin, died Tuesday (December 23, 2003) at the Good Shepherd Health Center. The family will greet friends from 3:00 to 5:00 PM Friday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with a memorial prayer service to immediately follow at 5:00 PM. Rev. Samuel Hamilton-Poore, First Congregational United Church of Christ, will officiate. Private family inurnment services will be held at a later date in Oakwood Cemetery, Beloit, Wisconsin. Memorials may be given to the First Congregational United Church of Christ or the Good Shepherd Health Center Alzheimer?s Unit. Bill was born November 24, 1922 in Beloit to Harry R. and Hazel (Hoyt) Smythe. His great grandparents were pioneers coming with their two daughters in a covered wagon from New York State in 1832. They built a limestone house from local quarry stone and Bill was the last Smythe to reside at this farm on the corner of Smythe School Road and HWY 81. He was a member of the first Congregational Church in Beloit. Bill spent his school years in Beloit graduating in 1942. He entered the University of Wisconsin Engineering School and studied there until he joined the US Marine Corp. His service took him to Zamboyanga Mindanao and Tsingtao China. He became fond of the Chinese children, always wishing he could someday return. After being discharged from the Marine Corp, he married June Marion Hill on September 7, 1946. Finishing his studies at the University of Wisconsin he received his engineering degree and joined the Beloit Corporation where he happily spent his whole working career. In 1946 he took his wife and two daughters, Tarilyn and Nancy, to reside in Zurich Switzerland, working in the European operation of the Beloit Corporation. Bill was proud of his two daughters who went to the Swiss schools and studied in German. It was a meaningful time for the family as they all learned how to ski while in Switzerland. During his nine years in the Zurich office he traveled very extensively, making friends in paper mills in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. His next move was to England to join his colleagues at Walmsley. His interesting work experience prepared him for his next challenge, a move to Calcutta India and an Indian Company Jassop where they too wanted to learn how to learn how to manufacture paper making machinery. He hired Indian engineers and enjoyed the challenge of acquainting them with the terminology and manufacturing methods of this new industry. Bill had originally agreed to stay on this project for two years, but after being asked, remained there for five years. His Indian friends were saddened when Bill left, as he was the only American businessman registered at the American Consulate. Bill was a member of the Rotary Club in Calcutta and worked on the Beloit Rotary Exchange with the Calcutta Rotary after his return to Beloit. Upon his retirement from the Beloit Corporation, he decided to move to the Smythe farm and restore the house. With the encouragement of his young neighbors, he became a farmer and raised cattle, sheep, hogs and planted corn, while ?retired?. He was as busy in retirement as he had been during his working years with Beloit, throwing himself into this new passion. Being back in the United States and near his daughter, son-in-law and their children brought him great joy. He was especially pleased and happy when his grandchildren, Thomas, Whitney and Parker came to visit, introducing them to the animals, equipment and farm life. Bill and June moved to Mason City in the fall of 1998. After Bill became ill with Alzheimer?s, he became a resident at Good Shepherd where he was lovingly cared for by their staff. He is survived by his wife, June Smythe of Mason City; daughters, Tarilyn Smythe of Skillman, New Jersey, Nancy Smythe Zanios and husband Jamie of Mason City; three grandchildren, Thomas living in New York City and Whitney and Parker attending college in Minnesota.

Visitation:
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home on December 26, 2003 (map/driving directions) 1:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home on December 24, 2004 (map/driving directions)

Service:
5:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home on December 26, 2003 (map/driving directions)