Charles Smith

October 1, 1932 - January 6, 2018
Macon, Georgia - Charles Truman Smith, 85, of Macon, Georgia passed away peacefully at Pine Pointe Hospice in Macon on January 6, 2018.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday January 9, 2018 at 2:00 at Fairhaven Funeral Home in Macon with a private graveside ceremony at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens following. Reverend David Brighton will officiate. The family will receive friends on Monday January 8. 2018 at Fairhaven Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 in the evening.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the American Heart Association, Pine Pointe Hospice in Macon, or any charitable organization of one's choosing.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents Wilburn and Gertrude Smith of Macon; his brother Robert (Ray) Smith of Macon; his sister-in-law Clara Smith of Macon; nephew Joel Smith of Martinez, Georgia; and niece Terri Smith of Macon.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joan Smith (nee Stadler), whom he met while stationed in Monroe, Michigan; daughter Tammy Platt and her husband Robert Platt, Jr. of Warner Robins, Georgia; son Gregory Smith and his wife Pamela Smith (nee McClatchey) of Gray, Georgia; grandson Michael Platt of Bloomingdale, Georgia; granddaughter Brittny Olson and her husband Zachary of Alpharetta, Georgia; his grandson Christopher Platt of Duluth, Georgia; and his granddaughter Mariah Whitmer and her husband Benjamin of Carrolton, Georgia.
Mr. Smith will also be missed by his cherished cat named Kit Kat whom he and his wife adopted as a stray.
A native and longtime resident of Macon, Mr. Smith joined the U. S. Navy at the age of 17 and served as a Seaman 1st Class aboard the Destroyer U.S.S. Walke during the Korean Conflict. He served in the Navy for 3 years and later enlisted in the U.S. Army serving as, among other capacities, the unit leader of the Honor Guard and a radar technician at the Nike Hercules site in Massachusetts and Michigan . After retiring from the Army on a medical disability, Mr. Smith continued to serve his country in a civilian capacity at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia until his medical retirement from there. While at Robins Air Force base, Mr. Smith assigned airplane maintenance and conducted time efficiency studies on aircraft maintenance.
A nature lover, throughout various times of his life, Mr. Smith enjoyed working in his vegetable garden, catch-and-release fishing and hunting for arrowheads and old bottles with his son, bird-watching; and taking walks in the woods near his home. He was often called to help out neighbors who encountered snakes in their yards as well.

In addition to the sport of fishing, Mr. Smith enjoyed and excelled at darts-playing in his younger days and playing ping-pong. He was an avid Boston Celtics basketball fan, coached his son in recreation league basketball (leading them to a championship) and continued to serve as an unofficial coach to Greg throughout his son's junior high, high school, and college basketball careers.
Mr. Smith also enjoyed other hobbies including reading; listening and singing to music (especially Roger Whitaker); completing crossword puzzles; playing Scrabble with his wife (and almost always winning); coin-collecting; furniture- refinishing; and a longtime hobby of collecting and selling depression glass and other collectible items. Drawing and painting were among others of Mr. Smith's many talents (He illustrated the ship on the Navy cruise book from 1951-1952) To the amazement of his daughter, he also finished his home's basement.
In recent years, he and his wife Joan enjoyed the fellowship of friends with whom they shared breakfast at Burger King as part of an informal seniors group.
Most importantly, Mr. Smith prized his family and was a steadfast source of love, mentorship, and support to them. While his physical presence is already sorely missed, he will be with his family and others whose lives he touched in cherished memories