Submitted by Emily O'Neal

Rome News Tribune February 1, 1940

Funeral Friday For W. A. Smith
Veteran Foundry Man and Masonic Leader dies at 78

Funeral services for William A. Smith, prominent 78 year-old Rome business man who died Wednesday afternoon in a local hospital after a brief illness of pneumonia, will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the North Broad Baptist church.
The Rev. O. E. Rutland, pastor and the Rev. B.W. Hancock, pastor of North Rome Methodist church will officiate, with burial in the family lot in Oakland cemetery.
Born at Cartersville, Nov. 6, 1861, he was the son of the late William C. and Nancy Ponder Smith, pioneer Northwest Georgians. He moved with his parents to Rome when he was only nine years old. Mr. Smith saw the first railroad tracks ever laid by the Southern railway in Rome. Mr. Smith became a leading figure in the foundry industry in this section. A well known iron moulder and manufacturer, he was associated with the old Bowie foundry for several years. He was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Southern Co-operative foundry and for several years owned and operated a stove foundy at Bessmer, Ala. Later Mr. Smith helped organize the Eagle Stove Works here and became a stockholder in that firm. He also operated the Seaboard cafe in Cedartown a number of years. He had been a continous member of the Iron Moulders Union of North America for 50 years and during that time was never sus- pended. He was a member of the Iron Moulders Union Local No. 234, a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner.

Active in Masonry

Mr. Smith took a prominent part in Masonic activities, having been a Mason for 50 years. He was a member of the Oostanaula lodge, The Rome Royal Arch chapter, the Rome Commandery of Knights Templar and Yaraab Temple Shrine of Atlanta. He had served as sentinel of the chapter and commandery for 25 years and became one of the best known Masons in North Georgia. Even at more than seventy years of age, he rarely missed a meeting of the two organizations in which he was an officer, and he was familiarly known to his friends and fellow members of the fraternity as "Uncle Bill".
Surviving are the widow, the former Mrs. Lottie Nichols Mathis, four sons, W. C. of Rome; Herman, of Villa Rica, Fla; Allan and Ed Smith of Bellville, Ill.; a brother, Ab Smith, of Aberdeen, Wash.; three step-children, Mrs. Charles F. Millican, Mrs. Claude Fricks and Marion Mathis, all of Rome, 25 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Active pallbearers, who are requested to meet at the residence 98 North Avenue, at 2:15 o'clock, include John Corbin, Everett Whitehead, E. E. Smith, Will Corley, Smiley and Naomon Skinner.
Honorary pallbearers, members of Iron Moulders Union Local No. 234, are asked to meet at the church at 2:30 o'clock. The Knights Templar will serve as honorary escort and will have charge of the graveside service. The body will lie in state in the chapel of Jennings Funeral Home until 9 o'clock Friday morning at which time it will be removed to the residence to await funeral services.

(Note: Died Jan. 31, 1940)

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