William (Bill) Covert Smith, 76, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at his home in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Born in Chatham County to Prentice Lane Smith and Lois Covert Smith, Bill grew up surrounded by strong family bonds that shaped his generous and kind spirit. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Charles Lane Smith and Thomas Wayne Smith.

Bill had a successful career in research and development focusing on electronics technology and communications. Over the years, he worked for Bell Labs, Micro Computer Systems, and retired from BellSouth. He was a former member of Riverside Baptist Church in Burlington, NC, where he served as a deacon and treasurer for many years. More than anything, what mattered most in Bill’s life was the love he gave, the curiosity he carried, and the relationships he treasured.

Bill never stopped learning. He had an extraordinary ability not only to absorb facts, stories, and bits of trivia, but to remember them with perfect clarity, often years later. His remarkable mind, paired with his gentle personality, made him someone people naturally loved talking with.

Bill loved his family beyond compare. He is survived by his son, Greg Smith and wife Amy Starke of Raleigh, NC; his daughter, Jann Oakes and husband John (Monk) Oakes of Greensboro, NC; and his cherished granddaughter, McKinley (Kinny) Oakes. He is also survived by his sisters, Anne Smith and Mary Smith, both of Siler City, NC; and by his nieces, Jennifer Harris and husband Scott Harris of Bear Creek, NC, and Kim Dumke and her son, Logan Dumke, of Siler City, NC.

One of the greatest pleasures of Bill’s life was keeping and caring for his granddaughter, Kinny, every Friday for eleven years. Week after week, he showed up without fail-only missing a handful of days due to illness or weather. Those Fridays became their tradition and one of the most meaningful chapters in both of their lives.

Bill was a loving, compassionate, and quietly extraordinary father, grandpa, son, brother, and uncle, with a steady presence, gentle humor, and deep devotion to the people he loved. He will be missed beyond words.

A graveside service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held at Chatham Memorial Park, 13260 US-64, Siler City, NC 27344, on Saturday, March 28th at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to VoteSaveAmerica or the Cancer Research Institute.

Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Smith family.

Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh.com