William "Wild Bill" Wild

William “Wild Bill” “Dad” Wild went to see Jesus on Monday December 11th at 3:50p.m. He was surrounded by family and loved by countless. Bill was a Navy veteran, an endearing husband, a loving father, a doting grandfather, adoring great grandfather, and proud great great grandfather. He retired from PSI-Duke Energy after 35 years and began his 2nd life in Lake Ashton Florida where he continued to show people how to love each other and enjoy life.
Dad was a man who lived 3 lifetimes in one. Never turning down a challenge or the chance to help someone. His abilities and talents were always amazing and we are blessed that he taught us many of them. Always giving words of encouragement, whether you liked them or not, “It’s a great world if you don’t weaken” even as the cancer was doing just that to him. On his humorous side, when you got hurt, his response was “I didn’t feel a thing”.
While raising eight children, he turned an old rickety school bus into a camper traveling and showing them the country and filling their hearts with a lifetime of memories. Like the time he took the school bus on top of a mountain, ignoring the “no RV’s beyond this point” sign. Getting us back to safe ground as he did countless times in each of our lives. Everywhere we look, his handy work is reflected in each one of us as well as the multitudes he touched. A wonderful son, husband, brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather. We will miss you, Dad, but never forget you. You are in each of our hearts forever.
He is survived by his best friend and wife, Harriett of 47 years, 8 children (Timothy Smith (Loretta), Tammy Grunzweig (Don), Steven Smith, Teresa Nogle (Bud), Michael Smith (Jennifer), Wendy Ketzner (Mike), Wanda Beasley (Mitch), and Daniel Smith (Monica). 17 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Also survived by sister, Myrna Ulbrich (Erv), sister Arlene Freeman (Tom) and brother Fred Wild (Sharon). He’s also survived by sisters in law Judy Norris (Dave), and Sally Disney (Hursel) and hundreds and hundreds of Lake Ashton Friends and Christ Community Church Friends and loved by Randy Smith.
Celebration of Life services will be held at the Lake Ashton clubhouse 4140 Ashton Club Drive Lake Wales, Fl. 33859 on Friday, January 5th at 1pm.  Memorial service will be held 1:00PM Friday, January 12, 2018 at Connection Point Christian Church 1800 North Green Street Brownsburg, IN 46112.