Obituary of William H. Smiley

William "Bill" H. Smiley June 28, 1926 - July 29, 2012 Middletown, New York William H. Smiley, a retired dairy farmer of Middletown, NY passed away July 29, 2012 at Orange Regional Medical Center, with his family by his side, after a long illness. He was 86. Son of the late Harold and Gertrude Howell Smiley, he was born June 28, 1926 in Newburgh, NY. Bill graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1944 and then served in the US Army Air Corps where he trained as an aerial gunner on a B-17 during World War II. He graduated from Delhi Ag. & Tech in 1948. He married his loving wife, Winifred Hulse on June 6, 1948. Together they fulfilled his boyhood dream of owning and operating his own dairy farm. He loved working in the fields and with his animals, especially his Belgian horses and fancy chickens. Bill was a lifelong member of the Goodwill Presbyterian Church in Montgomery. He was a past president of the Orange County Farm Bureau, a former director of the Farm Credit Association, a 4-H leader and a member of many other agricultural organizations including the Hudson Valley Draft Horse Association. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Winifred, his children, Ret. Col. Robert Smiley and wife Josephine of Woodbridge, VA, Ruth Roebuck of Goshen, Edith Bush and husband Douglas of Middletown and Beth and Russell Smiley at home. His brother Ralph Smiley of Flagler Beach, FL, and cousin Louise West of Wallkill. His grandchildren Brent Smiley and wife Carrie, Matthew Smiley and wife Jennifer, Sarah Patel and husband Dan, Tara Stewart and husband Jonathan, Lauren Smiley, Andrew and Hannah Roebuck and William, Lee and Jenna Bush. His six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to sincerely thank all Bill's care givers from Orange Regional Medical Center, the Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center and Good Samaritan Hospital Home Health Agency for their kind and compassionate treatment of Bill and his family during his illness. There will be no visitation and private services will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. Interment will be at the Orange County Veterans Cemetery in Goshen. Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Donovan Funeral Home, Inc., Goshen. To leave the family a personal condolence please visit www.donovanfunerals.com