Smyers Jr., William H

William H. Smyers Jr., of Wethersfield died on January 12, 2022 at home with his wife and a daughter by his side. He was born on Jan. 13, 1930 in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of William Sr. and Harriet Arthur Smyers. He grew up in

Westfield, NJ, received his mechanical engineering degree from Yale University in 1951, and then went to work in Cleveland in the Icing Research Division of the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory at NACA (the forerunner of NASA). He met Mary Anne Schenk, a Math Analyst, there, and studied at night to receive a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology. Bill and Mary Anne were married in 1954, and Bill’s engineering career took them to Corry, PA; Dayton, OH; and in 1966, to Wethersfield, CT where he was Chief Research Engineer for New Britain Machine Co. He is an inventor on 12 patents and worked for the local civil engineering firm of Close, Jensen & Miller from 1974 to 2000. He helped mentor science projects for local high school students and served on the Flood and Erosion Committee for the Town of Wethersfield. He will be remembered for his cheerful and gentle disposition, his willingness to help anyone who asked, and his ability to fix anything mechanical, often with repurposed parts.

He was predeceased by sisters Flora Smyers Lathrop and Ann Livingston and a grandson Patrick Smyers. He is survived by his wife Mary Anne and his seven children: Lynn Eusden (Alan), Donna Smyers (Eric Ryea), Greg Smyers (Jocelyn), Karen Smyers (Michael King), Mary Kaufman (Seth), Rick Smyers (Lydia), Laura Lane (Mike), and Debbie Lathrop Lechner, a niece who became part of the family. He is also survived by his sister Margaret Wolf of Carlisle, PA. He leaves 12 grandchildren: Will (Olivia), Caitlin, and Greg Eusden, Ben Smyers, Jenna and Casey King, Sam and Anna Kaufman, Brewster and Whitman Smyers, and Sara and Alex Lane and 2 greatgrandchildren: Teddy and Sophie Eusden.

In accordance with his wishes, services will be private and at the convenience of the family; though he liked to think that on some pleasant occasion in the future, someone might raise a glass and toast, “Bill would have enjoyed this”. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Equal Justice Initiative, Connecticut

Foodshare, or an environmental group of your choice.