Albina Pipe Bending owner passes away at 63

William H. Smith, 63, owner of Albina Pipe Bending Co. Inc., Tualatin, Ore., died Feb. 24 of desmoplastic melanoma at his home in the Portland area.

Born in 1947, Smith lived most of his life in the Portland area attending Arleta Elementary School, Franklin High School, and graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from Portland State University. After graduation he joined the U.S. Navy, deployed on the USS Enterprise during the Vietnam War. He had 50 years of experience in the steel bending industry.

Smith was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a PAL of the Assistance League of Portland, and an active member of his local Parkinson's support group. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Kathleen; his two children, Eileen (KC) Lesch and Brian (Jaime) Smith; and four grandchildren.