Charles Alfred Smith, 79, North Kansas City, MO, passed away January 22, 2001, at North Kansas City Hospital after a long series of illnesses. Funeral services will be held 7 p.m. January 25, 2001, at Newcomer's Sons White Chapel Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour preceding the services. Memorials may be made to the 34th Infantry Division Association, Camp Dodge, 7700 N.W. Beaver Dr., Johnston, IA 50131-1902.
Mr. Smith was born January 9, 1922, in Stanberry, MO, the youngest of 12 children of Mary Eva Gray and Jesse Bowen Smith. At an early age, he moved to Clay County with the family, living in Avondale, Liberty, and North Kansas City, where he graduated from High School in 1940. When he returned to the United States from overseas during WWII, he married a local girl, Darline Frances Chadwick, on July 18, 1944, in Olathe, KS. He had been employed as a fireman for the city of North Kansas City and local factories until he became a fireman-engineer in 1950 for the Kansas City Terminal Railway, operating out of the Union Station. He retired January 10, 1983, and spent several winters in Florida with his wife. He served as a combat soldier in the 5th Army, 34th Infantry Division, "Red Bull" Co. A, 168th Infantry Regiment, in the Tunisian and Italian Campaigns, and was awarded the European African MiddleEastern Campaign Medal and Combat Rifleman's Badge. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion of Illinois, the VFW in Kansas City, and the 34th Infantry Division Association. He was a member of the NKC Alpha Lodge No. 659, Scottish Rite, and Ararat Shrine in Kansas City, MO, for more than 52 years. He was a longtime collector of antiques, WWII and other historical books. In the 1970s, Charles and Darline began research on their families' history and published three books. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Darline, of the home; a sister, Katherine Neff; nephews and nieces; and many cousins.