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Smith Charles A. “Chuck”, 81 Kenton |
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Services for Charles A. “Chuck” Smith will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Schindewolf Stevens Stout Funeral Home in Kenton by the Rev. Scott Johnson and Pastor Chuck Zweizig. Burial will be in Grove Cemetery in Kenton. Friends may call 3-7 p.m. Thursday. He died at 8:20 a.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima. He was born Oct. 8, 1928 in Hardin County to Floyd and Annabelle (Hites) Smith. On June 10, 1951, in Kenton he married Mary Jane Myers. She preceded him in death on Sept. 3, 2006. Surviving are two daughters, Sheryl (Tim) Anstine and Sandy (Leon) Billenstein, both of Kenton; two sons, Steffen (Denise) Smith of Anniston, Ala., and Scott Smith of Kenton; grandchildren, Lance (Jody) England of Troy, Matt Billenstein of San Francisco, Calif., Todd Billenstein of Kenton, Adam (Jessi) Billenstein of LaRue, Sara (Bobby) Taylor of Kenton, Justin Smith and Gretchen Smith, both of Columbus, Conner Smith of Anniston, Ala., Ashley Rigsby and Jordan Smith, both of Kenton; step-grandchild, Triena (Roy) Miller of Mount Cory; great-grandchildren, Aidan and Olivia England, Wyatt and Kaytlin Billenstein, Abbygail and Colton Rigsby and Noah Smith; brothers, George (Pat) Smith of Kenton and Gail “Steve” (Frances) Smith of Highland Home, Ala.; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sisters Betty Osborn, Helen Steed and Mary Hopkins and brothers, Wilbur, John and Billy Smith. He retired from the Kenton Police Department in 1975 after ten years as an officer. He then worked at the Kenton City Schools as a custodian at various buildings and as a bus driver. He retired in August, 1992. A 1948 graduate of Kenton High School, he was a member of the St. John’s United Church of Christ, Kenton Elks Lodge 157 and Kenton Moose Family Center 428. He was a member of the Coffee Cups camping group. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1950 and then was a member of the National Guard for 18 years. He served on the Kenton City Council for three terms as the Third Ward councilman. He was a past president of the Westview PTA. In the 1960s, Chuck would be remembered for operating the Teen Canteen in Kenton. Condolences may be sent to stoutfh@windstream.net. Memorials may be made to Hardin County Hospice. (Pd. 031710) |
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LOSS OF A
CHERISHED ROLE MODEL---THE MAN AT THE GATE
There are some memories that are a part of our youth that we
feel should be frozen in time, never growing old or
changing. We feel we are entitled to put them up on a
shelf, in a safe place. Then, when we are ready, we can
pull them down. Touch them. Hug them. Love them and
smile. They will make us feel safe and young and innocent
again. In our youth, when all things in our lives were
good and we were the center of our dreams and oblivious to
the troubles of the outside world, we could take those
special dreams down from the shelf. Then, after our dream
visit, we could put it back on the shelf, until the next
time .
Chuck
Smith was one of those safe and innocent icons that was part
of my youth.
He was always there serving, smiling, making you feel safe,
because you knew he really cared about you, as an
individual. He never grew old. He never changed.
When I would see him around town, over the years, he always
looked the same. In his presence, I would revert back
to being one of his "kids at the canteen", waiting
for his approval to exchange a compliment with him.
On
a football Friday night, in 2008, I walked thru the iron
gates at the middle school. There, at the bottom of the
driveway, Chuck stood guard. This was a closed area to
most cars because of the pedestrian traffic in and out of
the game. As I said my hello's to Chuck, he let me
know it was his 80th birthday. He chose to spend it
doing what he had done for so many years ---being there for
the kids. I went up the hill to our tailgate
party and brought back a sandwich and a dessert. We
sat there in the grass and talked till the game was about to
start. I wished him a happy birthday. I offered to
sing, which, he quickly declined with a smile and a
chuckle.
I
don't remember the exact day, when I heard on the scanner that
an 80 year old had fallen. I knew, from the
address, it had to be Chuck. I called his brother and
called the ER later,
to make sure someone had gone to the hospital with
him. The diagnosis was-- a stroke. For the
next several months Chuck became even more of a roll model
for me. During these last months, he had his
legs removed. He had cancer in addition to
dialysis 3 times a week. But, he
continued to be the strong, consistant man with a quick
story and a smile.
We
spent many days sitting and talking, this last year of his
life. Never did we part without a prayer and a thank
you from me on behalf of all of
"Chucks Kids". I'm blessed
that he was a part of my life on this earth. But, I
also know in my heart that crossing over isn't going to be
nearly as scary,
knowing
that somehow Chuck will convince St. Peter to put him "on
the Gate" when one of his kids is about to check in.
He'll be there making sure we know all the rules and we can
indeed feel safe once again. Now, Chuck is
indeed, ageless.
Becky Rish
3-18-2010 KHS
Class of '65 |
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George A., 91 |
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Updated
10/20/11
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