William Dunham Smith, Jr.
LAFAYETTE — William Dunham Smith, Jr., age 83, passed away at his home in Lafayette on Saturday, June 24, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, July 9, at Martin & Castille Funeral Home’s Southside location in Lafayette. The family will receive guests beginning at 1 p.m. and a memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. with Rev. Zach Sasser officiating.
Born in Jennings in 1939, Dunham was the second of eight children to William Dunham Smith, Sr. and Kathryn Peterson Smith. He grew up in Jennings and Iota before moving to Belzoni, Miss., where he attended middle school and high school, returning to Jennings his junior year. He played football at both Belzoni High School and Jennings High School, where he was named captain of the football team and was awarded the Quarterback Club’s Sportsmanship Award. He graduated from Jennings High School in 1957 and attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute in Lafayette (now ULL).
In 1961, Dunham married Suzanne “Suzie” Stockwell and the couple made Jennings their home where they raised four children before moving to Lafayette. A loving and caring husband and father, he considered his children his greatest achievement. Dunham led by example, showing his children how to navigate life with kindness and patience, with a natural spirit of forgiveness and humility. He was quick to share a spoken “I love you” with his family and will always be remembered for his wit, quick smile and sparkling blue eyes.
He enjoyed a long career in the oil and gas industry beginning with Holston Well Service for 25 years and retiring from Moncla Well Services after serving 16 years as a supervisor. He was well respected and fondly remembered by many as a mentor who imparted valuable life lessons, especially to younger generations that had the opportunity to work alongside him.
A sports enthusiast, Dunham was a lifelong golfer and played many courses. He had a passion for all sports and was dedicated to watching and cheering on his favorite teams. He was a fitness devotee and committed to exercising both his body and mind with jogging, biking, physical fitness activities and his daily crossword and sudoku puzzles. He loved to spend time outdoors and enjoyed reading, gathering with family and spending summer vacations with family on the beaches of the Gulf Coast.
Dunham is survived by his wife Suzie; son W.D. “Tripp” (Dona) Smith, III of Jennings; daughters Erin (Kim) Roy, Judi (Kade) LeJeune and Allison (Joshua) Breaux, all of Lafayette; grandchildren Kristen (Patrick) Cassidy of Broussard; Casey (Marlie) Smith of Lake Arthur; Mallory Gunn of Austin, Texas; Kathryn “Katy” Briggs of Nashville, Tenn.; Leslie Briggs and Lila LeJeune, both of Lafayette; great-grandchildren Cole and Brecken Cassidy and Stevie Kate and Dani Lynn Smith; his sisters Kay Ward and Suzanne Smith, both of Lake Charles, Patricia Voorhies of Shreveport and Marilyn (Lowell) Fulton of Youngsville; his brothers Jerry (Loretta) Smith of Lake Charles and Frank (Denise) Smith of Lafayette; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his paternal grandparents Dr. & Mrs. Morgan (Harriet Sweeney) Smith, maternal grandparents Mr. & Mrs. George (Catherine Clark) Peterson, and his brother Charles “Chuck” Smith.
As a testament to his kindness, selflessness, and appreciation for science and medical professionals, Dunham donated his body to the Bureau of Anatomical Sciences LSU Health Sciences Center for the advancement of medical education and research. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends and family register to be organ donors at registerme.org.