Obituary of William Garfield Smith

Mr. William Garfield Smith, also known to many as "Smitty" or simply "Coach", passed from this Earth on November 4th, 2024, a wise and witty soul renowned for his sense of humor. Born on January 20th, 1949 to James Edward Smith and Elizabeth Smith in Morgantown, WV, William lived a vibrant life dedicated to education and mentorship, creating an enduring legacy through his teaching and coaching career. Raised in Kingwood, WV, he graduated from Kingwood High School in 1966 and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Fairmont State College in 1970, where he attended on a baseball scholarship. His team rose to great success his junior year, going 18-5 and advancing through the WVIAC, then on to the small college NAIA playoffs, causing the major leagues to look at many of the players. He was offered a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates but ultimately decided to finish his degree. He started his teaching career at Weir High School in Weirton, WV in 1971. His passion for teaching World History and American Studies left a lasting impression on countless young lives, a testament to his dedication and zeal for education. He went on to complete a Master of Arts in Education at West Virginia University in 1980. He coached baseball and both boys and girls basketball for nearly 40 years, taking the Weir girls basketball team to the WV state tournament in 2008. He retired from teaching in 2011, and from coaching in 2015. William was preceded in death by his father, Edward James Smith. William is survived by his two sons, Bryan and Andrew Smith, and his beloved daughters-in-law, Gretchen Hoover and Regina Smith. His legacy extends to his cherished grandchildren, Jacob Smith, Pandora Jane Smith, and step-grandchildren Liam and Audrey Caudill. In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his exemplary mother, Elizabeth Smith (Dobbs), and his siblings, James Edward Jr., Richard, Michael, Jimmy, and Roxanne Smith. The Smith family would like to thank the nursing staff (especially Candy) and the residents of the Tygart Center in Fairmont for taking such good care of Coach these last few years. Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, WV, on Monday, November 18th from 2pm until the time of the memorial service at 3pm, with Pastor Junius Lewis officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The American Heart Foundation. Hastings Funeral Home will live stream the service on YouTube. Please visit hastingsfuneralhome.com for the link to watch the service or to send condolences to the family.