Charles F. Smith's Obituary
Charles Smith Obituary
Charles Frederick Fred Smith, 87, of Elyria, passed away February 8, 2015 at Amherst Manor Nursing Home after a courageous battle with Alzheimer s Disease. Fred was born June 14, 1927 in Iron Mountain, Michigan and was the son of the late Charles Andrew and Alma (nee Rudquist) Smith. Fred graduated June 6th, 1945 from Kingsford High School, Kingsford, Michigan and immediately joined the United States Navy June 11, 1945, assigned to the U. S. Navy Public Information Office in San Francisco, California. After WWII, he attended Michigan College of Mining & Technology, Houghton, Michigan where he earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in June 1950. He began his career as a Junior Test Engineer with Bendix Heavy Vehicle Systems Group in Elyria. At the time of his retirement in July 1983, he was Director of Production Engineering. After retirement, Fred started his own business, C.F. Smith Associates, which he operated for many years. He was a 57 year member of the Society of Automotive Engineers International. In 1976 he received a corporate award from the chairman and president of Bendix Heavy Vehicle Systems Group. He was a former member of the Eastern Heights Investment Club and the East Elyria Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed tennis, golf, traveling, hiking with his grandsons and spending time with family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Lorna (nee McMorris) of Elyria; daughter, Anita Smith (Jeff Lessig) of Arizona; daughter, Susan (Tom) Leininger of Elyria; son, Gerald (Darlene) Smith of Avon Lake; daughter, Sally Roth of Elyria; and grandsons: Stirling Roth, Greg Leininger, Derek Roth, Jacob Roth, Michael Lessig, Kevin Leininger and Brandon Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Alma Smith; his brother Herbert Smith; sisters Mary Lou Burdorff and Marjorie Randall and a grandson, Brian Andrew Leininger. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association, Cleveland Chapter, P.O. Box 74924, Cleveland, OH 44194. A private service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com
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