William Howard Smith

William Howard Smith passed away speedily and painlessly at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on April 9, 2023. At his request, there were no services.

Bill was born on August 15, 1933 in Catskill, NY to Thomas and Lovisa (Vedder) Smith. He graduated from Roxbury Senior High in Roxbury, NY in 1950. During the summer of 1953, Bill bicycled across Europe and was present in London during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. A dedicated learner, he went on to receive an Associates degree in 1955, a Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in 1958, and a Master’s degree in Library Science from the Simmons School of Library Science in 1960. While in library school, he met his wife, Doreen Gertrude Lorentzen, a fellow librarian. They married in 1962 and moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in August 1964 where Bill began working at the Library of the University of Alaska Fairbanks as Assistant Professor of Library Science and Head of their Acquisition Department. He then went on to serve as the department’s Acting Director, an Associate Professor, and a Serials Librarian until he retired in 1991. Unsurprisingly, he returned to volunteer as a cataloguer for the university’s Geophysical Institute from 1995 to 2017 when he retired for a second time as the Special Projects Cataloguer. Bill also volunteered as a Periodicals Specialist at the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Library from 1992 until 2020. Bill was honored during the 2018 UAF graduation proceedings with Honorary Emeritus status for his dedication to Library Sciences.

While Bill dedicated much time to his work and various organizations, he never failed to be present for his family. He and his wife enjoyed watching their children, grandchildren, and eventual great-grandchildren bowl, dance, play soccer, or do whatever activities could be supported. He traveled often for these activities and was known to enjoy a good road trip, especially if it meant he could also visit other family; Bill ensured many of the Anchorage soccer trips would include a visit with his niece, Carol Kosinski. He also enjoyed doing needlework, some of which won awards and many of which are cherished by the friends and family who received them, and he lovingly continued his mother’s extensive swan collection upon her passing. He is remembered by his family as a gentle and kind man of few words with a strong appreciation of sweet treats and a predilection to respond to any question with a simple “whatever”. He loved to capture memories for himself and others and always had a camera in hand to do so.

Bill is survived by his three daughters, Joanne Louise Hahn (Jon), Linda Kathleen Olson (Steve), Jennifer Gail Smith, 4 grandsons, Kyle B. Olson, Tyler S. Olson, Brock E. Werder, Trent P. Werder, 4 granddaughters, Kaela L. Phillips (Daniel), Brandy K. Gloria (Jonathan), Kaitlin R. Smith, Julia M. Olson, 4 great-grandsons, Adam E. Gloria, Ryan M. Gloria, Liam C. Gloria, Jackson D.W. Werder, and 6 great-granddaughters, Hailey M. Phillips, Madelynn G. Phillips, Gemma R. Phillips, Mina D. Schaeffer, Juniffer R. Schaeffer, Delina L. Farris. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Doreen, brothers Gilbert and David, and grandson Justin W. Werder.

We wish to thank Dr. Footit and the caring nursing staff of 3 West for their support and care in his final days. We would also like to thank the Fairbanks restaurant staff who patiently served Bill and Doreen as their regulars through the decades. 

Arrangements were entrusted to Blanchard Family Funeral Home, 611 Noble St, Fairbanks AK 99701. Condolences may be made online at blanchardfamilyfuneralhome.com or sent to the family at 1676 Gold Poke Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99712.

In lieu of any donations, we ask that you do something Bill loved: support the local arts, attend a dance recital, listen to the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, go to the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival or a Fairbanks Concert Association event, go bowling, watch soccer, read a book aloud to a little one, or one our family’s favorites, go “bird watching”. For this last activity, watching the birds at Creamer’s Field is optional, but getting ice cream at Hot Licks is required.

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