Warsaw City Councilman Charles D. “Charlie” Smith of Warsaw,passed away in a single engine plane crash on the South Carolina side of Lake Hartwell in Oconee County on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, at the age of 71. He was killed in a plane crash en route to the Notre Dame vs. Clemson football game Friday afternoon as he was an avid Notre Dame fan.

He was born on Aug. 2, 1944, in LaPorte, Indiana to Harry DeVon Smith and Edna LaVerne (Maurer) Smith.

He was married on Dec. 3, 1999, in Warsaw, to Ann (Slone) Vanderlinden, who survives in Warsaw.

Charlie was a 1962 graduate of Walkerton High School. He then received his B.S. in 1967 from Manchester College of North Manchester, and his master’s degree in 1974 from St. Francis College of Fort Wayne.

He was known to many simply as “Coach” having coached many students over his 16 year teaching career at North Manchester, Triton and then Tippecanoe Valley.

He later became a banker and joined Lake City Bank in 1983 as manager of the Mentone, office and was then promoted in 1992 to senior vice president of the commercial banking department. In April 2000, Charlie was promoted to executive vice president of the commercial department. He retired from Lake City Bank in 2011.

Charlie loved this community and served on various boards. As a member of the city’s common council, he represented the council on the Warsaw Aviation Board, was president of the Warsaw Board of Public Works and served on the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission.

He was named Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 2001.
Was a board member and past chairman of Kosciusko Development, Inc., board member and chairman of the loan committee for Warsaw Community Development Corporation. He was a past board member of the Kosciusko Community Senior Services and past board member, finance committee for the YMCA.

He also chaired the Community Gifts Fundraiser for the expansion project and was a member of Warsaw Rotary Club, a former graduate and past president of Kosciusko Leadership Academy and a former member of the Kosciusko County Educational Council. Smith has also been involved with Junior Achievement, March of Dimes, United Way of Kosciusko County, Warsaw Combined Community Services, American Lung Association, Leukemia Society of America, and Boy Scouts of America. He attended Warsaw Community Church.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife: Ann Smith, Warsaw; daughter: Michelle Smith LeDrew, Warsaw; son: Ryan Smith, Warsaw; two step-daughters: Angela Cox, Warsaw; Karen (husband Josh) Meerzo, Huntertown; four grandchildren: Zachary, Bryce and Chase LeDrew; Ryne Smith, all of Warsaw; and six step-grandchildren: Tiffany Griffith, and Kalie Keener, Warsaw; Ashlyn (husband Austin) Singer, Braxton and Wesley Goodman, and Abigail Menefee, all of Huntertown. He also leaves behind his sister: Bonnie (husband Ken) Tiroff, Nashville, Tenn.; niece: Dianne (husband Bob) McCall, Nashville, Tenn.; nephew: Michael Golubski, Koonz Lake; and great-niece: Lyticia (husband David) Emery, Fort Wayne.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and his son Scott Smith who also died in the same plane crash.

Friends and family can attend Warsaw Community Church, 1855 S County Farm Road, Warsaw, Indiana from 1:59-8 p.m. for visitation on Monday, Oct, 12, 2015.

His memorial service will be conducted the following day along with his son’s Scott Andrew Smith’s memorial service at 9:59 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Warsaw Community Church and officiated by Pastor Denny Wilson.

Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.

Memorial donations in Charlie’s memory may be directed to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters, 1005 W. Rudisill Blvd., Suite 101, Fort Wayne, IN 46807 and would be appreciated by the family.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s web site www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com