Charles Jacob Smith Jr.

Charles Jacob Smith Jr. died peacefully on Sunday, February 14, 2010, at Silverado Senior Living in Escondido, Calif. He was born on November 25, 1920, in Roanoke, Va., to Dr. Charles J. Smith Sr., former President of Roanoke College, and Mary Eleanor Price Smith. Charles graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover in 1938 and Princeton University in 1942. He immediately began his career as an administrative assistant for field operations at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. Charles was later appointed to the APL Principal Professional Staff and served as Business Manager and supervisor of the Contracts Branch. He was the principal architect and negotiator of the contractual arrangements with the Navy as well as serving as the laboratory's representative in dealing with various audit agencies, state and county agencies and the University administration and Trustees. Charles retired from JHU APL in December 1986 as the Assistant Director for Business Operations. Charles and his wife, Nita, raised their family in Rockville, Md., and in 1987 they retired to San Diego, Calif. They enjoyed visiting their children, and traveling to India, Australia, Alaska, China, Europe, and the former Soviet Union. Charles was an active member and volunteer in his community and loved nature and the great outdoors. Charles is survived by his wife, Nita Smith; five children, Ann Rynders, Justin Smith, Laura Barry, Robert Smith, and Terri Leigh Howard; 10 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; his cousin, Elizabeth Lottich, of Baltimore, Md., and nieces, Mary Wiley Clark and Leigh Wiley Walker, both of Salem, Va. He is preceded in death by his sister, Virginia Wiley. There will be a private service for family members at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association.