SMITH, Charlotte V. (1924-2022)

SMITH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/29/2023 at 14:58:37

Charlotte Virginia Smith
(January 9, 1924 - December 10, 2022)

Charlotte Virginia Walker Smith, 98, died December 10, 2022 from complications of advanced age and osteoporosis at Kavanagh Hospice House in Des Moines. Charlotte lived most of her adult life on the Smith family farm south of Hartford, IA, and for the last 17 years at The Village retirement community in Indianola.
Charlotte was born January 9, 1924 at home on their family farm near the Des Moines River, now part of the Saylorville Recreation Area. Heavy snow prevented the doctor from getting to the farm, so her mother, Florence Cruzen Walker, was deftly assisted in Charlotte’s delivery by her father, Charles Benford Walker. She was the sixth of seven children and loved growing up on the farm helping her Mother in the garden and house, riding the work horses, Babe and Barney, and playing with their two pet chickens. She and her siblings often entertained themselves by performing plays written, staged, and costumed by her beloved older sister, Margaret, and she loved singing in harmony with her family, sitting in the front yard on summer evenings. Charlotte attended Johnston community rural school in Polk County and graduated from Ankeny High School in 1941. She showed an early aptitude for music and was selected to sing in one of the first Iowa All-State Choirs her senior year. She began attending college at Drake University with the help of a music scholarship, and worked summers in a local munitions plant sizing shell casings for the war effort. After two years at Drake, she began teaching music and high school English to fund her education, alternating years of teaching at Perry, Jamaica, Hartford, and Durant, Iowa with summer courses at the University of Iowa. She completed her BA in English, with a minor in music there, and later returned to the University in summers, while she was raising her children, and completed her certification in Library Science. Her professional career included years of teaching, followed by many years as a school librarian, helping to develop the Middle and High School libraries at Carlisle, IA. She influenced a great number of students there by taking the time to discover their interests and recommend readings to support them. She always advised, “It’s not as important WHAT you are reading, but THAT you are reading.” Charlotte met her husband, Robert Max Smith, while she was teaching at Hartford when he was home on leave from his Navy service. They married June 6, 1948, while both were completing their degrees at the U. of I., and soon returned to make their home and raise their five children in the Hartford area. Charlotte was a devoted mother and loved her family unconditionally. With her supportive and creative nature, she found many opportunities for fun and learning for her children. She also encouraged them to discover and explore their unique interests throughout their lives. Her children treasure vivid memories of many times spent with her, those champion apple pies, ‘snow candy’ whenever they were snowbound at home, and laughter! In addition to her family, Charlotte loved music, gardening, literature, and people. She was a long-term member of the Hartford United Presbyterian Church and more recently, the Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Indianola where she was a strong anchor in both choirs and was always willing to sing for a wedding or funeral. While teaching, she still managed to grow and preserve countless quarts of tomatoes, corn, green beans, and pints of pickled beets each summer. She had an internal drive to share: flowers, a loaf of banana bread, or any treat she thought you would enjoy. If you never received a bouquet from her, it was merely an oversight. If you ever entered into a contest with her to identify song lyrics or lines of poetry, you lost------but she was a gracious winner. Most of all, though, she loved people. She maintained a wonderful curiosity and interest in those she met and was sincerely concerned about their lives and families. She loved hosting meals, picnics, and gatherings for family and friends on the farm and delighted in visits from family members who always felt welcome to come for a stay. She was the best travel companion, due to her easy-going, cheerful nature and curiosity. She was always up for a trip and every destination revealed new people and sites with interesting histories. She loved visiting England and was thrilled to visit the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, one of the oldest libraries in Europe. She was equally thrilled to travel to South Dakota where her parents had homesteaded, through the Sandhills of Nebraska, and on car trips through the Iowa countryside with Bob. She had a once-in-a-lifetime experience visiting southern Africa in 1985, and volunteering for four weeks working with local teachers to reopen the school library in Entfonjeni, Swaziland.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (2007); and siblings; Charles, Benford, Alice Louise, Margaret Dailey, and Rex. She is survived by her brother, Glen, of Des Moines; sister-in-law Georgellen Smith of Walnut Creek, CA; and her children, William Smith, Seattle, WA; Julia Phipps (David) Des Moines; David Smith (Carolyn Wyrick), Decorah; Margaret Smith (Doug Alert), Hampton; and Susan Lathrop (Mike), Indianola. Also remaining to cherish her memory are grandchildren, Matthew Lathrop (Jessica), Brian Lathrop, David Lathrop (Megan), Robert Alert (Madison), and William Alert; great grandchildren, Kelly, Cara Charlotte, Brexley, and Willow; and many devoted nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Charlotte’s Life will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, January 14 at Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Indianola, IA. The family will greet friends prior to services from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church.
A scholarship is being established in Charlotte’s name to help Carlisle High School graduating seniors continue their education. Expressions of sympathy and memorials may be sent to her home address: 1203 N. E Street, Apt 2205, Indianola, IA, 50125 [This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]