Obituary of Walter E. Smithers

OSWEGATCHIE- Walter E. Smithers, age 84, formerly of Oswegatchie, passed away on May 1, 2018 at the Samaritan Keep Home in Watertown. Walter was born on September 22, 1933 in Depeyster, NY. He was the son of the late Emery and Nina M. (Willard) Smithers. He attended Depeyster School. In 1953 he entered into the United States Army and served in the Korean War until his honorable discharge in 1956. Walter married Sarah Durham on August 18, 1956 in Oswegatchie, NY with Otto E. Voight officiating. Sarah passed away on May 14, 1983. Walter worked for the Town of Fine for a few years before becoming a tow motor driver for the Newton Falls Paper Mill, where he worked for 30 ½ years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and he loved horses and he used to bowl on the Newton Falls Paper Mill bowling league. He volunteered for nine years at the Rensselaer Falls Food Pantry. He also loved spending winters in Arizona with his longtime companion, Kathleen. Surviving is his longtime companion, Kathleen Brossoit of Rensselaer Falls; a son and his wife, Murray and Teri Smithers of Oswegatchie; three daughters, Naomi Pitts of Star Lake, Nora and Bernard Buckley of S. Colton and Doreen Salcido of Canton; two brothers, Robert and Charles Willard and 12 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Walter is predeceased by his wife, Sarah; two sons-in-laws, Forrest Pitts and David Salcido; four brothers, Thomas, James, Leonard and Donald Willard; a sister Nina Willard and a sister-in-law, Marion Durham. There will be calling hours for Walter on Thursday, May 3rd from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at French Family Funeral Home in Star Lake. His funeral service will be on Friday, May 4th at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be at the Oswegatchie Cemetery. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Donations may be made in Walter's memory to the Rensselaer Falls Food Pantry.