William Norris "Bill" Smithson, 86 Lakeland – William Norris "Bill" Smithson went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Preceding him to heaven were his parents, Robert and Hazel Smithson; two brothers, Robert and Charles Smithson; two sisters, Betty Ockerman and Helen DeGroff; and one daughter, Suzanne Lynn Smithson. Bill was born on November 25, 1932, Thanksgiving Day, in Waterford, Michigan. They lived in Waterford until the beginning of WWII, when they moved to Missouri, because his father was an air force pilot. The family then returned to Michigan until 1949, when they moved to Florida. Bill joined the navy during the Korean war. After the war he returned home and attended engineering school in Michigan, where he met the love of his life, Charlotte Markland. After graduation in 1956 they were married, moved back to Florida, and raised their family. He worked at Cape Canaveral, then moved to the City of Lakeland and became an Electronics Engineer. After retirement, he started a business installing sound systems. In 1994 they decided to retire to Tennessee and lived there for 24 years. They were members of First Baptist, Cleveland, TN and had many friends there. Bill is survived by his wife, Charlotte of 63 years; children, Saralinda, Stephanie and Steven of Lakeland, Sharon of Germany, William of Atlanta, GA, and James of Cleveland, TN, and their husbands and wives; brother, James Smithson of Mechanicsburg, PA; sister, Joan Smith of Galveston, TX; 15 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren and countless friends. Service will be held at Church at the Mall chapel on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 10:00 AM with a viewing held at 9:00 AM, Reverend Gene Wells and Chaplain (Colonel) Timothy Mallard Officiating. Interment to follow at Oak Hill Burial Park with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, Lakeland.