It is with great sadness, love and deep appreciation that the family of Charles Benjamin Smith Jr. announces his natural passing on December 23rd 2022 at Miller Merry Manor in New Carlisle IN, formerly of Lake Station IN and Lowell, IN. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Menthola Smith, his sister Arlene Smith and his wife Sandra Smith and his only son Phillip Smith. He is survived by his daughter Christine Maddox (Smith) his grandchildren Samantha, Jacob and Leo and his brothers Bill (Peggy) Smith of Florida and Ben (and wife) Smith of Arizona. Charles was born in Kentucky December 5th 1939 in a log cabin home and eventually his family moved and settled in the NW Indiana/Black Oak region. Charles served in the Navy and received an honorable discharge due to a motor vehicle accident that occurred during his service time. In 1973 he met his wife Sandra Lipka who was working for Western Union while he was driving a taxi in the East Chicago region. They married on Jan 25th 1974. Charles proudly adopted Christine who was the daughter of Sandra and they subsequently had their son Phillip in December of 1974. They resided in Hessville IN and moved his family to Lowell Indiana in 1980 and remained there until the death of his wife in 1990. He was an electrician employed by Blaw Knox foundry until the plant closed and then worked for GATX Corporation of East Chicago IN until his retirement. He attended Black Oak Baptist Church and eventually was an ordained minister to Black Oak Community Church in the Lake Station region.
Chuck lived on his own terms. His life was centered on God and he prayed and read his Bible without fail every day. He was simple when it came to the things he enjoyed; breaking into a can of Hershey’s chocolate syrup and drinking it down, enjoying his mother’s original fudge that was made once a year during Christmas served off of her fine china, playing his guitar and making music with his family, watching Jerry Lewis and Three Stooges reruns and laughing until he couldn’t breathe, attending magnificent Thanksgiving and Easter dinners, and hosting stray animals in his home which included at one point 2 potbelly pigs and countless mother dogs with copious puppies. His animals came before his comfort and he always made sure they were warm and fed. He was known as “Chuckles” by his son’s friends and this became an affectionate nickname that only a few understood. Finally, he was always immensely proud of his children and his grandchildren and their propensity for musical talent, always beaming with modest pride. Charles did everything he could and lived a full life with the 85 years he was given, and he will be sorrowfully missed here on earth by many.
Special thanks to Dunes Hospice for the gentle care he received in the last 2 years, and a special thank you to the employees of Miller’s Merry Manor in New Carlisle who loved him and took the time to be sure he was treated with dignity and respect.
Cremation handled by Crown Cremation Services in Crown Point, IN. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date in spring of 2023.