Paul Everett Smith, 96, of Urbana, passed away at 3:38 a.m. on Sunday, February 4, 2018, at Meadowbrook Health Center.

Paul was born May 7, 1921, to Carrie (McGhehey) and William Oscar Smith in Roodhouse, Illinois. He attended Roodhouse schools and was baptized in the Illinois River at Hillview, Illinois, in 1937.

He attended Shurtleff College in Alton, Illinois. Paul received a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in Science Education in 1948 and a master's degree in 1950.

Paul taught physics and chemistry at Urbana High School from 1948 until 1970. He was a member of the Illinois Physics Teachers Association, the Illinois Chemistry Teachers Association, and the National Physics and Chemistry Association.

Paul married Ruth E. Sprankel on December 24, 1950. In 1958, they started an apartment rental business in Champaign-Urbana, which is still continuing today.

Paul is survived by his two daughters, Christine Gunther (Jim), of Mahomet, and Karen Colvill (Jeff), of Columbus, Indiana; three grandchildren, Steve Colvill (Olivia) of Chicago, Illinois, Jenny Colvill of Overland Park, Kansas, and Jamie Gunther of Mahomet; and his brother, Philip Smith, of Mesa, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, three brothers and one sister.

Paul was a strong patriot of the United States. Even though he was a conscientious objector in World War II, he did serve his beloved country after the war in the Merchant Marines, taking thousands of horses to a devastated Europe.

Paul was a founding member of the Central Illinois Apartment Association. He was an active member of Twin City Bible Church for over 50 years. Paul enjoyed working, reading the Bible, helping others, and being with his family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Twin City Bible Church. A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2018, from 9:00-11:30 a.m. at Twin City Bible Church in Urbana. Funeral services will be held after the visitation. Burial will take place at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Champaign.

His family would like to thank all those at Brookdale Assisted Living and Meadowbrook Health Center who cared for Paul over the last several years.