Charles K Smith

Charles King Smith, 92, of Bartlesville, OK, passed away on February 21, 2017. The celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 on Friday, February 24, 2017 at Bartlesville First Church (Bartlesville First United Methodist Church), 4750 SE Price Rd. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Bartlesville, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to The Journey Home or Disabled American Veterans. Charles, the sixth of James Truman and Virginia Eliza (Dunn) Smith’s eight children, was born in Nowata, OK. At 17, he and good friends left Nowata in search of work in Texas. In 1943, Charles began his military service in the U.S. Navy during WWII. While in the Pacific Theatre, Charles proudly served as a boatswain’s mate and coxswain aboard the amphibious warfare ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) where he received a letter of commendation from Fleet Admiral William Frederick Halsey, Jr. After his 1946 honorable discharge, Charles returned to Copan, Oklahoma to complete high school. From 1950-1951, Charles once again was called to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a boatswain’s mate aboard the USS Salisbury Sound and as Master of Arms at the San Diego naval air base. After his 1953 honorable discharge, Charles moved to Bartlesville, where he graduated from Bartlesville Business College, earned the International Society of Accountants certificate, and completed a 38 year career with Phillips Petroleum Company. His hobbies included construction, carpentry, dancing, and boating at Grand Lake. Charles served his community as Horace Mann Elementary School PTA president, Washington County election board volunteer, 32nd degree Mason, and as a member of the Scottish Rite. In his retirement, he served as an AARP tax assistance program volunteer. He was a long-time member of Bartlesville First United Methodist Church and the Homebuilders Sunday School class. Charles is survived by his wife of 64 years, Evelyn Smith, his children, Chuck Smith and wife Nancy, Ward Smith, Kelly Curtis and husband Paul. Charles was proud of his five grandchildren, Ryan Smith and wife Martha, Chelsea Ouellette and husband Corey, Meghan Walling and husband Todd, Sean Curtis, and Lisa Smith, as well as five wonderful great-grandchildren, Henry, Camille, Adeline, Holden, and Bennett. Charles is also survived by one sister, Sarah Secondine, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding Charles in death are his parents, James T. and Virginia E. Smith, and siblings, Virginia Ellen Smith, Atlas Henry Smith, James Martin Smith, Annabel (Smith) Cooper, Lula Pearl (Smith) Barr, and Jacob Allen Smith. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for the care and compassion shown by the staffs of Brookdale North, Comforting Hands Hospice, and The Journey Home.

Charles K Smith

October 30, 1924 - February 21, 2017