| Charles Leroy Smith | |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
My full name is Charles Leroy Smith. I was named after my dad's brother. My nickname as a child was Charlie and my nickname as an adult was Chuck, although my family still calls me Charlie. I was born in on October 9, 1932 on the farm on Stiles Road, Ludington, Michigan. I don't remember my grandparents because they were all dead by the time I was born, except for my Grandma Larson. The thing I remember most about her is that she used to always give me oranges when I would see her.
The chore I hated the most when I was a kid was cleaning out the barn. My favorite toys as a child were home-built tractors. I also enjoyed playing hide-and-seek. I attended 1st through 8th grades in a one room schoolhouse while 9th through 12th grades I attended Ludington High School. During 1st through 6th grades I walked to school, but I rode the bus after that. My favorite subject in school was math and it was also the easiest for me. My least favorite subject was English. I participated in choir. I couldn't participate in any sports because we didn't have a car so I had to catch the bus home. I mostly got C's in school. I liked school alright. I usually wore jeans and shirts to school.
As a child, I wanted to be a policeman. My first job, though, was on a car ferry in Ludington.
The reason why I left the Mason County Smith farm was because in February 1952 I entered the United States Air Force, stationed in Munich, Germany, in which I served for four years. When I was discharged in 1956, mother Teckla and I decided to visit my brothers and sister before I went to work. In February, 1956 mother and I came to visit Otis and Dorothy in Mt. Morris. I went to a youth banquet at the Mt. Morris First Baptist Church where I met Margaret Faye Donaldson. We went to a drive-in movie on our first date. We got lost...
In May, 1956 I moved to Grand Blanc from Ludington and was married August, 1956 at the Mt. Morris First Baptist Church. We had dated for 6 months before we got married. I admire everything about her. The wise advice I would give my grandchildren would be to love your spouse, work together, be in love with them and be their best friend.
We have two children, both are adopted: Jonathan C, born October 29, 1960 in Detroit, and Margaret A., born January 1, 1965 in Flint.
In January, 1963, I moved to my current Flint area home near Gennessee.
I went to work for General Motors and worked for them thirty years and retired in 1993. In my life, I've been a military policeman in the U.S. Air Force, a farmer, a GM worker, an ambulance attendant, a gas station mechanic, and grist mill operator, and a first aid instructor. I usually worked between 4 and 12 hours per day. I would describe myself as a democrat. I'm 6' 1" tall, my hair was blonde as a child but now it's white, and I have blue eyes. I have good general health although I do have ulcers. We regularly attend the First Baptist Church in Mt. Morris. I never learned to play any musical instruments. My hobbies are hunting and bowling. I've been the President of the Citizens of Cross Road Village and the President of the Volunteer Ambulance Company. I have won an award for excellence at General Motors and an award for the Genesee County Parks. My favorite season is fall and my favorite color is red.
Respectfully submitted,
Chuck
| Margaret Faye Donaldson | |
|
|
 |
|
|
Return to Smith Home Page
Return to Genealogy Home Page