Charles Edward Smith, Sr.

Mr. Charles Edward Smith, Sr. of Apex, NC passed away peacefully in his home on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at the age of 91.

Charles “Charlie” Smith was born to Lewis Clifford Smith and Fayetta Kathryn Haefner on January 18, 1933, in Conneaut, Ohio where he attended Rowe High School and graduated in 1952. On January 24, 1953, at the age of 20, he married his high school sweetheart, Janet Mae Downing. Charlie was predeceased by Janet, his wife of more than 66 years, who passed away on March 2, 2019; his parents; and his sister, Betty Smith Korczak.

Charlie is survived by his four children, their spouses, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren: Scott Charles Smith, wife Helen and their children Teresa Katherine Smith Porter (daughter Cecelia Bloom Porter) and Phillip Scott Smith (son Mason Phillip Smith); Timothy Lewis Smith, wife Laura and their child Julia Alexandra Smith; Katherine Beatrice Smith Sears, husband Warren and their children James Alan Sears and Ashley Kathryn Sears Parlier (daughter Ivy Mae Parlier); Charles Edward Smith, Jr, wife Jennifer and their children Emily April Smith and Sarah Elizabeth Smith.

After graduating high school, Charlie worked for a year as a machinist on the Nickel Plate Railroad before being drafted into the United States Army. He was a war-time veteran and served from 1953 to 1955 as a Corporal in the 538th Engineer Battalion (attached to the Army Corps of Engineers) in Korea. While in Korea, Charlie had the privilege to pitch for the United States in overseas baseball competition. He was asked to remain on the team following his discharge, but instead chose to return home to his newlywed. Following military service Charlie pursued a career in baseball as a ‘southpaw’ pitcher and played for the Greensboro Patriots (a Red Sox farm team), and other semi-professional teams. An unfortunate shoulder injury ended his baseball career in 1958. Charlie moved on to work as an Inventory Control manager at a tool company in Utica, NY, and Orangeburg, SC, then to an appliance manufacturer in Asheville NC. Following these industrial positions, Charlie moved on to a long career in sales in the Greensboro NC area, which was his true passion and gift. At various points in his sales career, Charlie sold extension university courses, cemetery plots, insurance, and cars, but his favorite sales position was selling mobile homes, where he received numerous awards for his tact and skill in helping to place folks in their new homes. When nearing retirement, Charlie moved on to working at home improvement centers and for the Town of Cary at Bond Park, where he taught kids about fishing.

Charlie’s greatest joy was woodworking projects such as furniture repair, building birdhouses, bird feeders, butterfly houses, and other crafts to give to family or sell at craft shows. He was also a history enthusiast, with a focus on World War II, and enjoyed watching war movies. He took great pleasure in hearing and telling humorous stories, many of which involved his children working with him at mobile home sales centers. Charlie and Janet loved the outdoors and visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially in the autumn. Charlie was an avid poker player, a stickler for playing by the rules, and was always on the lookout for a good poker game with family or with fellow residents at his senior living facility in Apex.

The family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to Charlie’s doctors at the Durham Veteran Affairs hospital; in particular, his primary care physician Dr. Mehul Trivedi.

A private celebration of Charlie’s life will be held by the family at a later date.

Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com