Smith, Charles Herman

Passed: 2014-10-19

Age: 83

Source: Jackson Herald

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 2014-10-21

Information: Charles Herman Smith, 83, of Sandyville WV, surrounded by his daughters at his home, peacefully went to be with his Heavenly Father on Sunday morning, October 19, 2014.  A graveside service will be held on Friday, October 24, 2014, at 2 pm at Meadowdale Cemetery, Sandyville WV, with a 45 minute viewing period prior to service. Family and friends may send their condolences to the Smith family at 7154 Liverpool Road, Sandyville WV 25275.      Charles was born in Laville, Boone County, WV to Frank James Smith and Alice Cosby (Hicks) Smith on April 1, 1931.  Charles spent his childhood growing up and working on his family farm in Morrisville WV.  At 19 years old, Charles enlisted with the U. S. Army and served during the Korean War.  For his service he was awarded the Korean War service medal with five bronze service stars.  Following his service to his country, Charles returned home and, while attending a local church meeting, met his future wife, D. Maxine Browning.  They married on May 20, 1955 and remained married until her death September 18, 2013.  Before moving to Sandyville WV in 1976, Charles worked for Republic Steel Corporation and Dohrn Transfer Company in Cleveland, Ohio.  While living in Ohio, Charles was a member of the Bethel Church of the Nazarene and Calvary Ridge Church of the Nazarene, which he was instrumental in the founding and building of.  In 1977 Charles accepted a school bus driver position with Jackson County Board of Education and held such position until he retired in 1993.  In addition, Charles served as a foster parent through the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources, he cared for his special needs brother-in-law and sister-in-law who resided with him until each of their respective deaths, and he opened his home to provide respite care to special needs children.  Charles attended and was a member of the Ripley and Ravenswood Church of the Nazarene.      Whether you knew him as Charles, Chuck, Herman, Charley, Dad or PawPaw, you knew he loved the Lord, would do anything for anybody, loved to talk, then talk some more and that he was always on the move.  Whether it be helping a family member or neighbor in need, working on one of his antique cars, working on his house or yard, casting out his reel to catch the next big one or hunting for that big buck seen up in his holler during hunting season---you rarely caught Charles sitting down.  When you did catch him, you caught him reading his Bible, watching or reading a good western or sitting in one of his porch swings with his sweetheart Maxine.     Charles is preceded in death by his wife, D. Maxine (Browning) Smith; his parents, Frank and Alice Smith; his brothers, Arthur Adrain Smith, Roy Odell Smith, Lester Youvon Smith; and his sisters, Lavetta Varlene Smith, Betty Christene (Smith) Barrickman, Audrey Elizabeth (Smith) Billups, Olivene Justene (Smith) Harless and Anna Gay Smith.  Charles is survived by his daughters, Sherry Rae (Smith) Davis and Vickie Lynn (Smith) Cottrill (Ron), both of Sandyville WV; brothers, Larry Edward Smith (Sharon) of Orgas WV and Bethel Allen Smith of Sandyville WV; sisters, Wanda ""Judy"" Layuna (Smith) Payne of Ripley WV, Crystal Kay (Smith) Kelly of Ripley WV; grandchildren, Melissa Ann Smith-Moore (Jonathan) of Nashville TN, Gregory James Michael of Florida, Jennifer Lynn Michael of Columbus, Ohio, Christine Marie (Smith) Smith (Shadd) of Silverton WV, Jason Scott Michael (Jennifer) of Baltimore MD, Rachelle Renee (Ghee) Casto (Zac) of Ravenswood WV, Adam Garrett Ghee (Kayla) of Murraysville WV; great-grandchildren, Anthony Scott and Jasmine Renee Michael, both of Sandyville WV, Jillian Spring and Silvia Rain Smith, both of Silverton WV, Noah Scott Michael and Jacob Allen and Victoria Anne Brayman of Baltimore MD, Skylar Brooke Mace and Mason Ariah Casto of Ravenswood WV, Iryn Nicholas Ghee of Murraysville WV and Nathan James Michael of Florida.  Charles leaves behind much-loved cousins, nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, friends and lifelong friends, brothers and sisters in Christ and his black Labrador, Abby.