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Submitted: 3/15/20 • Approved: 6/18/22 • Last Updated: 6/21/22 • R254257-G0-S3
STAFF SERGEANT US Army
World War II
March 26, 1921 - March 5, 2010
Charles E "Charlie" Smith, 88, died March 5, 2010 at the VA Medical Center in Shreveport.
Services will be at 11:00 am, Monday, March 8, 2010 at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Chapel. Officiating will be Rev Harrell Shelton, Associate Pastor of Airline Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-6 pm, Sunday, March 7, 2010 at the Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home.
Mr Smith was born March 26, 1921 to Henry Smith and Annie Mae Peace Smith in Hosston, Louisiana. He was a combat veteran of WWII serving with the US Army in Europe. He was a faithful member of Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City, a life member of the North Shreveport Lions Club and a charter member of the Greater Bossier Toastmasters' Club. Mr Smith began an insurance career with Metropolitan Life in the Shreveport/Bossier area as an agent, advanced to Territorial Field Supervisor in New York, then moved to New Orleans as District Manager. He later returned to Bossier and became owner of Blanchard Insurance Agency, retiring in 1993.
A significant event in his younger life occurred in 1940 when he and two friends, Jessie G Draper and Charles Ryan, both now deceased, rowed a 10ft. rowboat from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and up the Red River to Shreveport, Louisiana in 54 days, gaining them national acclaim as the story was carried on radio and movie news reel.
He always said the highlight of his life was his marriage on December 3, 1946 to Francine Grammer of Benton, Louisiana. From this union were born two children, George C Smith of Haughton, Louisiana and Martha Rebecca "Becky" Terry of Austin, Texas. He is survived by his wife, his two children, son-in-law Harold Terry, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Honoring Charlie as pallbearers will be his two grandsons, Brad Smith and Scott Mise; and Sonny Draper, Al Bullock, Tim Dement and Don English. Honorary pallbearers will be the Honorable George Dement, Kip Terrell, the Bill Nichols Sunday School class and the members of North Shreveport Lions Club.
The family would like to thank Dr Charles Powers and Dr Michael Moore for the many years of care they have given. Special gratitude goes out to the VA SICU doctors and nurses for their compassionate care over the past week.
Memorials may be made to Airline Baptist Church, 4007 Airline Dr, Bossier City, Louisiana 71111.
Contributed on 3/15/20 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 254257