Channing Robert SMITH, OD

SMITH, FITZSIMMONS, VAN ZOMEREN, FISHER, SWEENEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/2/2016 at 00:28:20

August 27, 1930 ---- October 26, 2016

Dr. Channing Robert Smith was born Aug. 27, 1930, at his grandfather’s (Channing G. Smith MD) home in Granger, Iowa. He was the son of Channing C. Smith and Georgia Mae (Fitzsimmons) Smith. He was baptized and was later confirmed at First Congregational Church in Eagle Grove, Iowa. He graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1948, continued his education at Eagle Grove Junior College, transferred to Ohio State University, moved on to Northern Illinois College of Optometry obtaining a B.S. degree in 1952 and a Doctor of Optometry degree in 1953. In college, he joined three fraternities, Delta Sigma Phi at Ohio State, Omega Delta at Northern Illinois and was awarded the academic, Tomb and Key upon graduation.

After passing the Iowa and Minnesota State Boards, he entered the Army in the fall of 1953. He was stationed in the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic in the hospital at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and honorably discharged in the fall of 1955.

His first optometric office was in Elbow Lake, Minn., where he met Jyda Janice Van Zomeren. They were united in marriage on June 27, 1958, at Eden Reformed Church in Herman and shared 58 years of marriage. They were blessed with three children, Channing L., Michele L. and Jerrilynn J. Jan, and Chan lived in Elbow Lake, Richfield, Bloomington, Hutchinson and Apple Valley. After retiring from optometry in Hutchinson, he did relief work in many optometric offices in Minnesota.

Chan was a member of the Minnesota Optometric and American Optometric Associations. He was an active member of Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield and Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, where he chaired or helped in the functions of each church. He was charter president of the Hutchinson Lions Club and received the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellow award, the highest honor given in the National Lions Organization. He was active in Apple Valley and Lakeville Senior Centers, was the emcee (known as “The Thorn”) for Rambling Roses Red Hat Chorus. Chan was a member of the Apple Valley VFW. He enjoyed fishing, hunting agates, gem stones, lapidary work, photography, traveling, watching his children and grandchildren’s activities/sporting events and being with his family and friends.

Dr. Channing Smith passed away Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Ave. S., Edina. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Berean Baptist Church, 309 E. County Road 42, Burnsville, with a visitation one hour prior.

He is survived by his wife, Jan; son, Channing L. (Jodi) and their children, Hannah (fiance’ Robby), Channing J. “CJ”; daughter, Michele (Rick) Fisher and their son, Josh (Tonya and their children, Davin and Taelynn); daughter, Jerrilynn “Jerri” (Pat) Sweeney and their daughter, Kara. He was preceded in death by his parents. Private interment will be held at a later date in Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to your church, charity or Minnesota Lions Eye Bank.