Charles Smith

1925 - 2017

Charles W. Smith

91 years

Durham

Charles William Smith, age 91, passed away at Hillcrest Convalescence Center on January 8, 2017. He was born on June 13, 1925, in Fayetteville, NC to Col. Homer Smith and Juanita Harper Smith. Charlie moved to Hawaii as a child but returned to Fayetteville where he graduated from Fayetteville High. Charlie received an appointment to attend West Point but turned it down in order to serve his country in World War II, where he was a lieutenant and served as a navigator in the 303rd Bomb Group of the 8th Army Air Force, the original Hell's Angels. Stationed in Molesworth, England, he flew 20 missions over occupied Europe and was promoted to lead navigator of his group. Charlie's service to his country was a very important part of his life and he continued to keep up with members of his Bomb Group, including reunions and a trip to the Czech Republic 50 years later.

After the war, Charlie attended Duke University, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity and where he met his wife of 63 years, Mary Wright Smith. He graduated from Duke University in 1949 and went on to co-found Allenton Realty and Insurance in Durham and later, Charles W. Smith and Associates. He was a former president of the Durham Board of Realtors, a member of the Kiwanis Club and was awarded both the MAI and the SRPA designations of the Appraisal Institute. He was also a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Hope Valley Country Club.

Charlie never met a stranger and believed in enjoying life and laughing. He could always make people laugh or smile. To quote Shakespeare he was "a fellow of infinite jest." An avid golfer, gardener, fisherman, and die-hard Duke fan, Charlie loved spending time with his family and friends, music, and the beach.

Charlie is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary Wright Smith, a brother Gene Smith, an infant son Charles William Smith, Jr., and a daughter Carol Smith Balaskey . He is survived by a brother Julian Smith, a sister Cindy Smith McCutcheon, two sisters-in-law, Pat Smith and Gabriele Smith; a brother-in-law, Mac McCutcheon; a daughter, Mary Helen Williams (Curtis) of Ashland, VA, two sons, David Allen Smith (Jan) of Durham and Charles Balaskey Smith (Georgea) of Raleigh; grandchildren Justin Curtis Williams (Heather), Daniel Scanlon Williams (Maggie), Elizabeth Williams Bowles (Clay), Adair Wright Smith, Michael David Smith, Georgia McKinley Smith, and Mary Greaves Smith and great-granddaughter Harper Lane Bowles.

A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church Friday January 20, 2017 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers the family asks contributions be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3639 Old Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707. The family will receive guests in the fellowship hall after the service. The burial will be a private ceremony prior to the memorial service.