Charles Dale "C.D." Smith

ODESSA - C.D. Smith, age 92, of Odessa, passed from this life on Monday August 1, 2022 at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, TX. He was born in Goodland, TX on February 11, 1930 to the late Cecil Dale and Hazel Smith. C.D. married Thelma Ledbetter in Dora, NM on September 3, 1949. C.D. was drafted and served in the military and did a tour in Korea, he worked for Continental Oil Company, El Paso Products and C.D. & Thelma owned and operated Chaparral Camera Center in Carlsbad, NM. C.D. was a Christian and was a member of the Church of Christ.

C.D. was a great husband. He met Thelma in the middle of a volleyball game where he said his first words to her, "Aren't you just about the best on your team?!" After that, they teamed up together for the next 65 years. C.D. had an awesome sense of humor.

C.D. was a great father and set a good example to his children and grandchildren. Many stories could be told of the adventures and life experiences he shared with his family. Some of these were the vacations, which included camping trips and numerous outings. He taught all of us children how to shoot a bow and how to hunt and fish.

The most memorable times was going to some of the Magic Conventions with mom and dad. In his passion for magic, he became known in the magic field as "Chuck Smith" the Underground Legend. He was well recognized as one of, if not the best Close-up Magician by other magicians. He actually was a legend in his own time. He was associated with a group of Magicians known as the Secret Seven. But the secret was there were only six magicians in that group and not seven. Other magicians would constantly ask who the seventh man was. They would reply, we can't tell you, it is a secret. He has helped so many young magicians with his mentoring that later became great magicians themselves. He is known for his Lectures at many of the Magic Conventions. Chuck Smith's Lectures Notes are world renown and sought after by many magicians even today. In the Magic World, Chuck Smith's magic is mentioned in Magic Magazines and Magic Forums. He is known as the Magician's Magician. With just a pocket of a few coins and a deck of cards, our dad could do at least an hour performance of magic tricks.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife: Thelma Dee Smith; his son: Douglas Gene Smith; daughter Susan Elaine Howell; and his three brothers and one sister: Donnie, Gary and Kenneth Smith and his sister Marilyn.

He will always be cherished and be remembered by his two sons; Roger Smith and wife Jana and Eugene Smith and wife Anita, all of Odessa; and seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Graveside services are scheduled for Monday, August 8, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Sunset Memorial Cemetery, officiated by Eugene Smith. Funeral services are under the direction of Acres West Funeral Chapel.

Arrangements are entrusted to Acres West Funeral Chapel in Odessa, TX. Condolences to the family may be made online at acreswestfuneral.com.