Bill B. Smith - Benton, IL Bill B. Smith, 85, of Benton, IL, died at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at his home. Mr. Smith was born on September 13, 1925 in Nason, IL the son of Jesse "Pete" Smith and Ruby Francis (Darnell) Smith. He married the former Ruth Odom on April 27, 1948 and she preceded him in death on August 22, 1996. He later married the former Donna (Wilcoxon) Webb on December 24, 1997 and she survives. Bill was a retired farmer and served his country in the U.S. Merchant Marines during W.W. II. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Benton, IL and a lifelong attendee of the New Salem Primitive Baptist Church, Benton, IL. He was a member of the Franklin County Farm Bureau, founding member of the Middle Fork Property Rights Association, Hamilton County Ageless Iron Club, past BCHS board member, Benton Booster Club. He enjoyed restoring antique tractors during his retirement. Surviving relatives include his wife, Donna Smith, Benton, IL, four sons, Gordon Smith and Susan Silver, Fairview Heights, IL, Don and Sue Anne Smith, Lake Mary, FL, Ronald and Regina Smith, Carbondale, IL, Roger and Penni Smith, Benton, IL, four step-sons, Darrell and Norma Webb, Ewing, IL, Doug and Cheryll Webb, Ewing, IL, Dan and Sheri Webb, Crystal Lake, IL, David and Shelley Webb, Ewing, IL, a step-daughter, Dawn and Mike Kovarik, Benton, IL, ten grandchildren, Ryan and Angela Smith, Highland, IL, Holly and Spencer Seher, St. Louis, MO, Stephanie Smith, New York, NY, Brooke Smith, New York, NY, Tim and Jamie Smith, Denver, IA, Matt and Ellie Smith, Cedar Falls, IA, Brooke and Brady Rossiter, Nashville, TN, Brett and Katie Smith, Round Lake, IL, Aubrey and Doug Bauer, St. Louis, MO, and Bart Smith, OFallon, IL, fourteen step-grandchildren, Jason and Aimee Webb, Mt. Vernon, IL, Aaron and Brittania Webb, Mt. Vernon, IL, Dustin, Chase, and Brittany Webb, all of Ewing, IL, Ryan Webb, West Frankfort, IL, Alicia and Josh Barnett, Woodstock, IL, Amber and Ryan Couchman, Harvard, IL, Austin Webb and Allison Webb, both of Crystal Lake, IL, Steven, Amy, and Emily Kovarik, all of Benton, Kaylee Webb, Ewing, IL, twenty great-grandchildren, a brother, James G. Smith, Carbondale, IL, a sister, Christina Rose, Antelope, CA, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents and first wife Ruth. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 21, 2011 and from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home, Benton, IL. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with Elder John ODell officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL with military rites performed by the Benton American Legion and V.F.W. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Southern Illinois or the Ruth O. Smith Scholarship Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home. Visit www.hobbsjohnson.com to sign the memorial guestbook.