Charles Bettis

Charles "Chuck" Bettis, 78, of Fort Smith, departed this life on December 24, 2013. He was born April 8, 1935 in Williford, AR to the late Jewel and Margaret Haney Bettis. He was a US Army Veteran of the Korean War and a Navy Seabee of Vietnam. He retired from the Fort Smith Police department on April 8, 1982 after 22 years of service. He was the first city police officer to be trained and licensed as a polygraph examiner in the state of Arkansas. He was one of the founders and the past president of the State of Arkansas Retired Municipal Association. He was appointed by former Governor Bill Clinton to the Private Investigators and Security Guards Licensing Board, serving four years as the secretary of the board. He was also appointed by former governor Clinton to the 8th Judicial District Jail Standards Committee to serve until removed, which he later resigned from and was later appointed by former Governor Tucker again to the Private Investigators and Security Guards Licensing Board in 1996 and served four years as chairman. Charles was the founder of the state polygraph licensing law in 1967. He was the founder and past president of the Twin City Investigation and Polygraph,inc. He was appointed by the late Mayor Baker to the Property Owners Appeal Board where he served eight years. Funeral service honoring Charles will be12:00PM Friday December 27, 2013 at Edwards Funeral Home chapel in Fort Smith. Burial will follow at 1:00PM at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, AR. Arrangements are under the direction of Smith Mortuary, Charleston, AR. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife Betty; Son, Jimmy C Bettis and wife Michelle, daughter DiAnn Antone and husband Tony; Granddaughter, Tiffany Antone, grandsons Tejay Antone, Justin and Jordan Deuley,Great grandchildren Jayden Antone and JaeLynn Rimarez Online condolences may be made atwww.smithmortuaryinc.com