Charles Orville "Chuck" Smith, 89, of South Plymouth, died peacefully at his residence on Saturday, March 11, 2017 with his loving wife by his side.
Born May 21, 1927, Chuck was the son of T. Berton and Flora May (Lewis) Smith. He grew up in Preston and graduated from the Oxford Academy school system. He also earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in agricultural sciences from Cornell.
After college, Chuck taught both agriculture and shop at Deposit High School before being drafted into the US Army during the Korean War. He served in the Veterinarian Corps as a meat inspector in Boston during his time of service.
After his discharge and return home, Chuck worked in the Otego school system as an agriculture, shop, and driver's education instructor. He also worked for a time as a farm representative for NYSEG.
In 1965, Chuck accepted a position in Aityetoro, Nigeria, in West Africa, as an instructor at the Comprehensive High School there. He was so loved there, that he was even named a chief of a local tribe. He returned to the US four years later and served as the Executive Director of Opportunities for Chenango.
In 1974, Harvard sought someone to work in its program teaching agriculture extension to civil servants in Africa. Harvard asked Cornell, and Cornell recommended Chuck. Chuck left the US once more and served in Cameroon, West Africa, in that field of work.
In Cameroon, Chuck met his wife, Judith "Jude" Balmer, a British native, who survives. Later, Chuck and Jude lived and worked in Liberia and Tanzania. They returned to the US in 1983.
Chuck and Jude would spend their lives together raising their children, traveling to many parts of the world, and living in the log cabin Chuck built himself (with the help of a dear friend), in South Plymouth.
Chuck also enjoyed reading, riding his motorcycles, and working on his Ford Model A cars.
He did everything he wanted to do during his life, and died the way he lived, being at peace in his home.
In addition to his wife, Chuck is survived by three sons, Jeffrey (Mary Christine), Andrew (Elizabeth Dellars), and Timothy (Amy); two daughters, Amy (Richard) Saucedo and Lucy Smith (Jason Battaglia); eight grandchildren, Celine, Gwendoline, Alaric, Brian, Adam, Erica, Huckleberry, and Trillium; and sisters, Esther (Stan) Wilson, Peggy Sylstra, Fern Pierce, Irma (Dave) Petley, and Caroline (Bob) Georgia.
A private viewing will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home, and a private committal service will be conducted at Hillington Crematory, Morris, NY.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Chuck's memory may be made to Chenango Hospice, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815, Partners in Health, 800 Boylston St., Suite 1400, Boston, MA 02199, or SOIL Haiti, 124 Church Rd., Sherburne, NY 13460.
To leave the family a message of condolence, please visit the funeral home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.