Charles E. "Chuck" Smith

Chuck Smith was a loving husband and a dedicated father who always kept his family in the center of his heart. He regarded his children as he greatest accomplishment, and he was the happiest when he was in their company. The year 1929 marked the twilight to a decade of economic prosperity and industrial growth. With the crash of the stock market on Black Tuesday, the Great Depression rapidly spread through the country. The unemployment rate skyrocketed, affecting nearly one out of every four workers. Amid this climate of hardship, Everett Smith and his wife Mary Hittle maintained their optimism by focusing on a different future, the future of their family. They were expecting a child, and on December 17, 1929 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their son Charles. Throughout his childhood, Chuck and his family moved around a lot. His father was a carpenter for the U.S. Navy, a job which required him to travel from base to base. They lived in Louisiana for several years where Chuck had his first job delivering ice. He was a strong young man, and his boss always asked him to make the upstairs deliveries. Though he suffered from emphysema, he never allowed the illness to slow him down. After the tenth grade Chuck left school and moved to Muskegon where most of his family had settled. He lived with Uncle Edward Hittle, and he began working at Sealed Power. He soon met an attractive young woman named Hilda Murphy at the local movie theater. The next night he went to her house to ask her out on a date. This was the beginning of a six year courtship. During the Korean War, Chuck joined the U.S. Navy. Before he departed on a transport ship, he asked Hilda to marry him. They were engaged during his time in the service. Although he did not go to Korea, he spent a good deal of his time in Greenland on the LST 521. After his discharge, Chuck returned to Muskegon. He and Hilda waited a year before getting married. She wanted to make sure that they really had something - and sure enough they did! They were united in marriage on May 22, 1953 in Muskegon. This was the beginning of a wonderful marriage that would last more than fifty years. Chuck and Hilda were blessed with three children. Thomas was born in 1954, followed by Charles in 1956 and Cynthia in 1958. The family settled down in the Wolf Lake area. Chuck provided for his children through his employment as a longshoreman at the Mart Dock. He later worked for Reynolds Televator. Chuck shared his love for the hunting and fishing with his children. He was an excellent dad who truly enjoyed all the time that he spent with his children. Chuck and Hilda did everything together. They were more than husband and wife: they were also best friends. They enjoyed motorcycling, four-wheeling, fishing, and traveling around the U.S. Chuck loved NASCAR and he always cheered for Dale Earnhardt Sr. He went to races in Daytona, Phoenix, and Michigan Speedway. One of Chuck's closest companions was his Airedale terrier Sara Sue, a gift from his son Chuck. After a rocky start in life, Sara Sue found a best friend. As Tom said, "She needed a good home and she got one." Chuck kept of a picture of her in his truck. He took her for daily runs on the property at 5:00 p.m., the time when she would always get a little antsy. When Chuck returned home from the hospital, Sara Sue refused to get off his lap. She was far too large for a lap dog, but she always loved to sit on Chuck. The two of them filled the recliner. Sara Sue is lost without him now, and a picture of her will be buried with Chuck. Among the many people whose hearts he touched, Chuck will be greatly missed and frequently remembered. Please visit Chuck's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory, sign the guestbook, or post a memorial contribution.