Charles D. Smith

charles

A hard worker and a dedicated husband and father, Charles Dennis Smith exemplified wisdom and consistency. He understood that it is much wiser to be silent than to speak without thinking and was respected for his practice of weighing what he heard without making hasty or careless remarks. His patience and pleasantness made him a pleasure to be around, and those who took the time to know him were sometimes rewarded with his hearty laugh.

Like many of his contemporaries, Charles was not born in a hospital. He came into the world on the family farm in Tallmadge Township on September 27, 1923. He was the sixth of seven children born to Derk and Grace (Flikkema) Smith. All of the children grew up with a sense of responsibility for the family's welfare and developed a strong work ethic by helping out on the farm. Charles' father, Derk, also worked as a paperhanger to make ends meet, but when Charles was just three years old, tragedy struck. Derk died, leaving Charles' mother to raise all seven children and manage the farm as well.

Charles attended Sand Creek Elementary School through the eighth grade. The Great Depression wore on throughout the decade of the 1930s, forcing many young people, including Charles, to leave school in order to help provide for their families. As a teenager, he heard rumors of war in Europe, and on December 7, 1941, the worst fears of the American people came true as Japan attacked the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Charles worked the farm until he was drafted into the Navy in March of 1945 and sent to Guam. Within a month and a half, both Germany and Italy were defeated and in September of that same year, Japan surrendered as well. Charles continued to serve until his tour of duty was over, gratefully returning home the following July.

Charles went back to work on the farm and in 1950, he met a lady named Florence Carlson. Florence's father was also a farmer and had worked with Charles' dad years earlier. Florence was fully aware of the hard work and responsibility necessary to manage a farming household, and willingly took the task to heart when she and Charles married on October 25, 1952, at Tallmadge Wesleyan Church.

The young couple moved to a home located on the Smith homestead and began building their new life. They shared the many joys and challenges of raising three children and developed a strong sense of teamwork in their fifty-two years together. They stayed in that house for their entire married life.

Charles loved farming and was always looking for ways to improve quality and production. He took good care of his equipment, especially his faithful tractor and Chevy pickup. He was quite progressive, being one of the first to integrate technology into his farming practices. He also liked visiting Amish farms, respecting their traditional farming techniques and admiring their simple way of life. He was a member of the Farm Bureau.

In 1959, it was necessary for Charles to take on another job. He began working construction, but he didn't completely give up agriculture. He still cultivated around a thousand tomato plants and took his produce to the midnight market, still making it to work on time the next day. He was a member of the AFL-CIO and worked construction until his retirement in 1982.

Retirement for Charles did not mean that he stopped working. He helped out his son Tom on the farm and was never idle. He continued to enjoy gardening and also cut his own wood. Sometimes he tinkered with projects in his workshop, but some of his best hours were spent fishing on the banks of the Grand River with his collie, Shorty, sniffing around and then hurrying back to his loving master's side.

Charles appreciated good home cooking and enjoyed eating at the Essenhaus in Indiana. Most of all, though, he loved his birthday dinner at his sister Anna's house, indulging in the delicious Swiss steak dinner capped off with her fluffy lemon meringue pie. Those special times making memories with his family were the most precious.

Charles adored Beth Ann, Thomas, and Mary, and took great pride and pleasure in his grandchildren. He taught them that perseverance would pay off in the end and that great satisfaction could be found in a hard day's work. His example of commitment, discipline, and quiet strength will continue to influence his loved ones for years to come.

Charles passed away on Monday, May 16, 2005. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Beth Ann; his brother, Richard; and three sisters, Grace McNutt, Marie Broad, and Alice Way. Surviving are his wife, Florence, of Marne; son, Thomas, of Jenison; daughter, Mary Smith, of Marne; and grandchildren, Jill, Dan, Kara, and Melissa Smith. Also surviving are his sister, Ann Toppen, of Muskegon; brother-in-law, Owen McNutt, of New York; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m. at the Grand Valley Baptist Church, 3186 Riverhill Drive NW, with Pastors Gary Carlson and Dan Heistand officiating. Interment will be in Rosedale Memorial Park. Friends may meet the family on Wednesday, May 18, from 2-4 and from 7-9 p.m. at the Heritage Lifestory Funeral Home-Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may leave a memory, sign the guestbook, order flowers, or make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society.