William Smith

William Benjamin "Ben" Smith, age 73, passed away on January 19, 2024, at Copper Canyon Memory care facility, Tucson, AZ. He was born in Rocky Mount, NC.

Ben is survived by his wife, Nancy, son and daughter-in-law, Josh and Ginny, and grandson, Evan. Also, his brother, Tom Smith (Sandra), nieces and nephews.

After high school in Rocky Mount, NC, he spent four years in the US Coast Guard stationed in St. Petersburg, FL. It was there that he met Nancy and they were married in 1971. After serving in the Coast Guard they moved to Chapel Hill, NC, where he graduated from UNC undergraduate and law school. Ben worked in the same law firm in Charlotte, NC, for 36 years. After retiring in 2015, they moved to Tucson, AZ, to be near Josh and Ginny, and in 2018 grandson Evan arrived.

Ben disliked discrimination and confrontation. He was a perfect gentleman, kind, supportive, honest, fair, and cared deeply about justice. Ben loved his family, golf (hour of power), travel, movies, theater, music, art, history, sports and a good pun. Many years ago he said his headstone should read "died of contributory negligence.”

We're eternally grateful to Copper Canyon Memory Care facility and Aegis Hospice where Ben received loving and excellent care.

No service is planned at this time.