Charles Smith Jr

Hastings resident, Charles E. Smith Jr., 77, of 2019 West 9th Street, died Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at Blue Hill Care Center, Blue Hill, Nebraska.

Services will be Saturday, October 6, 2007; 1:00 P.M. at Butler-Volland Chapel with Rev. Charlie Gable officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Hastings, Nebraska. Visitation will be Friday, October 5, 2007; 9am-9pm with family present from 6pm-8pm, and then Saturday, October 6, 2007; 9am until service time at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to First Church of God, Kearney, Nebraska.

Mr. Smith was born June 15, 1930 in Phillips County, near Prairie View, Kansas, to Charles Sr. & Maude (Eller) Smith. He attended school in Densmore and Almena, Kansas and graduated from Hastings High School in 1947. He was in the shoe business with Bucks Booteries and transferred to Columbus, Nebraska where he met and married Jean M. Livingston. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from March 2, 1951 to December 1, 1953. After his discharge, he worked for Bucks Booteries, then Cuda's Shoes and Browns Shoe Fit Company. He left Browns and sold real estate for a time with Partners Real Estate Company and then was hired to do a pilot project for the state of Nebraska, working out of the Hastings Regional Center. He retired in 1995. He enjoyed hunting, fishing & golfing. He was an avid bowler and served as a board member for the Hastings Men's Bowling Association. He was in the association for 53 years. He was also an active member in the First Church of God, taught Sunday school, an evening Bible Study and filled the pulpit when the pastor was gone.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers; Carl, Ivan & Lawrence Smith and two sisters; Florence Lambert & Dorothy Knowles.

Survivors include:
Wife: Jean Marie Smith - Hastings, NE
Sons & Spouses: Michael L. & Beverley Smith - Sioux Falls, SD
Gregg A. Smith & Julie Cantrell - Beckley, WV
Grandchildren: Jennifer Smith - Sioux Falls, SD
Benjamin Smith - Sioux Falls, SD
Brother: Richard Smith - Udall, KS