Charles Willis Smith (1895-1974)

SMITH, MOOERS, BOYNTON, NELSON, BROWN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/13/2014 at 00:00:18

From Nevada Journal February 1974

Charles Willis Smith

Charles Willis Smith, who died Sunday, Feb. 3 in the hospital in Los Angeles, California, was born on a farm near Rhodes, Iowa May 28, 1895.

He was one of five children of William Francis Smith and Nellie Holt Mooers. His father was a railroad agent and telegrapher, and the family lived in many small towns in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Mr. Smith graduated from Jackson High School, Jackson, Minnesota. he served in France in World War I with the Army Air Service, and was a 55 year member of the American Legion, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

After the War, Mr. Smith settled in Nevada where he was married August 19, 1922 to Bernice Boynton of Nevada. Their son, Charles Vance, was born February 3, 1934.

Mr. Smith was with the Reuben H. Donnelley Corp. of Nevada and served two terms as mayor of the city. Later, he became a Veteran's Employment Representative with the Iowa Employment Service and lived in Des Moines, until his retirement in June, 1960.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to Los Angeles in 1961. Mrs. Smith died in Nov., 1963. For the past seven years Mr. Smith made his home with is son and family. He is survived by his son, two grandchildren, Margaret and Charles of Los Angeles; one brother, Bernard O. Smith of Fargo, North Dakota; and two sisters, Mrs. Frances Nelson of Colon, South Dakota, and Mrs. Ruth Brown of Bemidji, Minnesota.

Memorial Services were held in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at Covenant Presbyterian Church. In Nevada, services were held at Ryan Funeral Home on Friday, Feb. 8, with Rev. Marvin Hulse offciating. Interment was at Nevada Cemetery.