William “Kenneth” Smith, 87, passed away on March 18, 2025. Born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, on March 31, 1937, to Herman Lenoir Smith and Minnie Mae Wehunt Smith, Kenneth moved to Burke County at a young age. He attended Salem High School before joining the army in 1954. He ended his military service in 1966 as Petty Officer Third Class in the United States Navy, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 in Port Hueneme, California. After moving back to Morganton, he worked as a healthcare technician at Broughton Hospital until he retired. He was a member of Hartland Missionary Methodist Church.

Besides his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Margaret Pendley Smith, his son, William Kenneth Smith Jr, his brother, Gary Smith, and his sister, Brenda Smith Reubens.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Linda Smith, sister Wanda Byrd (Gary), daughter Jeanne Byrd (Dixon), son Dennis Michaels (Sue), daughter Kaye Fish (Allen) stepdaughter Pat Street , and stepson Jeff Woods (Kelly).

He is also survived by his grandchildren Kylie Epely (John), Jamie Allman, Amanda Lowman (Eric)  Christopher Fish (Leanne), Jesse Stewart (Brooke), Katie Quarles (Justin), Madison Byrd, Adam Street, Grant Street, Jordyn Street, and Elizabeth Lillard (Joe)  and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Hartland Missionary Methodist Church at 2556 Piney Road, Morganton, at 3:00 with visitation from 2:00-3:00 at the church on Sunday, March 23, with the Reverend Danny Carr officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hartland Missionary Methodist Church.