Charles David Smith
Charles David Smith, 94, passed away peacefully Aug. 15, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born Nov. 27, 1928, in Oklahoma City, the only child of Charles Everett and Mary Irene Foster Smith. Growing up, he raised chickens and pigs. He spent many nights in the fair show barns sleeping with his pigs.
Charles was FFA president and later became an American Farmer.
Charles was a lifelong resident of Kingfisher and a 1946 graduate of Kingfisher High School.
He served in the U.S. Air Force working as a staff sergeant during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in El Paso, Texas; Cheyenne, Wyo.; Denver, Colo.; and England.
Upon his return, he attended Oklahoma A&M College. Charles met his wife, Patsy, when she was riding home from college with a friend.
There was an immediate attraction between the two and within days they were dating. They dated every other night and she wrote him letters on the days in between.
He saved every one of them. Eight months after meeting, they were married.
Together they had four children: Scott, Sherri, Lisa, and Kim. They were married 59 years until her death in 2013.
Charles was on the board of directors for Kingfisher Bank & Trust, chairman of the board at Kingfisher Community Hospital and board chairman at the First Christian Church.
He was a third generation farmer/rancher who raised cattle and wheat. He provided well for his family, working long and hard hours doing what he loved.
Charles enjoyed playing pitch with his buddies, watching OU football and playing dominoes with friends and family.
He had a love for wildlife. He fed corn to the deer and turkeys and enjoyed watching them in his backyard.
But more than anything, Charles loved his family dearly.
He will be deeply missed by all. Charles is survived by his son, Scott (Kim) Smith, and daughters Sherri (Tom) Arms, Lisa (Tom) Uhlenhake and Kim (Ronald) Wilczek; his 12 grandchildren, Micah Smith, Jonathan (Jeni) Smith, Bethany (Jake) Fraser, Todd (Falon) Arms, Jami (Travis) Lamontagne, Adam (Kenzie) Arms, Robbi (Shane) Regier, Amber (Matt) Crandall, Kara (Scott) Russell, Paige (Marty) Leatherwood, Nikki (Victor) Oropeza and Amy (Reid) Trout.
He is also survived by his 25 great-grandchildren: Alayna Smith; Acacia, Atlas and Amaya Smith; Hudson and Copeland Fraser; Eli and Parker Arms; Kate and Quinn Lamontagne; Avery and Thomas Arms; Bradley, Rien and Aiden Regier; Reagan, Caleb and Kyndall Ramer; Kelly, Hunter, Zachary and Charlie Russell; Shelby Clanton; and Zack and Levia Leatherwood; and his caretakers Hortencia Ramirez, Shole Ramirez, Maxine Gonzales and Matilda Caldwell.
Services for Charles were 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at the First Christian Church in Kingfisher, followed by burial at Kingfisher Cemetery under the direction of Sanders Funeral Service.
The family has requested memorial gifts in Charles’ name be made to Kingfisher First Christian Church or Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.