Charles W. Smith

   Charles W. Smith, a lifelong area resident, entered into rest on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at the Orange Regional Medical Center in the Town of Wallkill, NY surrounded by family. He was 93 years of age.

    The son of the late Casper Leo and Laura Adelaide Bates Smith, he was born on May 25, 1924 in Middletown, NY.

   Charlie retired from Orange & Rockland Utilities as a System Scheduling Supervisor after 38 years of service. He was a member of the O & R 25 Year Club and their Retiree’s Association. Charlie was a Life Member of American Power Dispatcher’s Association and served as Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Area. He proudly served his country during World War II with the 55th Field Artillery Battalion from 1943-1946 in the Pacific Theater. He was the recipient of several medals including the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 3 Battle Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Japanese Occupation Medal, the American Campaign Medal, Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Charlie was a former active, now honorary exempt member of Harriman Engine Co. No 1 in Harriman, NY and was a charter member of Mulligan-Eden American Legion Post No. 1573 in Harriman and a present member of American Legion Post No. 151 in Middletown. He was a coach-manager in the Monroe-Woodbury Little League and a coach for the Newburgh Pony League. Charlie was a former member of the Harriman United Methodist Church and present member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Middletown. He was a member and Past Master of Hoffman Lodge No. 412 F&A.M. in Middletown and had served as Assistant Grand Lecturer and was a Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Orange-Rockland District. He was a member and Past High Priest of Midland Chapter No. 240 Royal Arch Masons and had served as a Grand Representative of Massachusetts and as Grand Sentinel of the Grand Chapter of New York. Charlie was also a member of Highland Chapter No. 52 and Neversink Chapter No. 186. He was a member and Past Illustrious Master of Goshen Council No. 93 of Cryptic Masons and had served as Grand Representative of Minnesota. He was a member and Past Commander of Cyprus Commandery No. 67 Knights Templar and is a member of the Past Commanders Association of Central New York. He was a Charter Member of General Henry Knox Council of Allied Masonic Degrees and served as Sovereign Master and was also a member of Charles Smith Council No. 324 in Oneonta. He was a member and Past Governor of Albany York Rite College in Albany and at the 33rd General Assembly of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America was elected an Associate Regent and received the Order of the Purple Cross. He was a member and Past Excellent Chief of Glencairn Council Knight Masons No. 14 in Albany. He was a member of Trinity Tabernacle No. XXIV Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests and served as Preceptor and was coroneted to the Order of Knight Commander, member and Past Prior of Trinity Priory No. 5 in Troy, NY, member of Cyprus Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. Shriners in Albany, member and Past President of the Orange County Shrine Club, member of Albany Conclave Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine, member of Beth-El Post No. 29 Masonic War Veterans, 32nd Degree  member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Binghamton and Past Thrice Potent Master of the Middletown Lodge of Perfection and received the Meritorious Service Award from the Council of Deliberation. Charlie was a former member and Past Patron of Queen Esther Chapter No. 163 Order of the Eastern Star.

   The family would like to thank Dr. Charles Strober for years of care.

        Survivors include his children, Mary Anne Cavalaro of Middletown, Charles W. Smith Jr. and his wife Pamela of Middletown, Laura Elaine Eckert and husband Wesley of Port Jervis, and Steven E. Smith of Middletown; his grandchildren, Dorothy Grecco and husband Daniel, Charles Cavalaro, Brian Smith and wife Meredith, Lesley Pallone and husband Joey, Mary Alice Presto and fiancé George Kovatch, Patricia Halpenny and husband Kevin, Daniel Eckert and wife Theresa, Steven E. Smith Jr. and wife Lindsay and Amy Smith; his great grandchildren Alessandro, Michael, Austin, Angelina, Chase, Jordan, Derek, Gillian, Wyatt, Charlotte, Weston, Nicole, Joey, Andrew, Noah, Natalie, Colton, Kendall and Reagan; sister Kate Boyce and husband Harold; sisters-in-law Margaret Baird and Anna Baird; brothers-in-law Edmund Bunora and Charles Hansen and his wife Jean; many nieces & nephews. Charlie was predeceased by his wife of 62 years Dorothy Mae Smith, grandson Wesley Eckert Jr., sister Doris Doyle and husband Ken, brother Raymond Baird and wife Ruth, sister Mary Baird, sister Gertrude Bunora, brother Robert Baird, brother Edward Baird, brother-in-law Harry Hansen and wife Cecile, brother-in-law Joseph Hansen and wife Jeanne, brother-in-law Robert Hansen and wife Dorothy, mother-in-law Mary Hansen and son-in-law Stephen Cavalaro.

    Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2-4 & 7-9 PM Tuesday, January 23rd at the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, 26 Grove St., Middletown, NY where Masonic Services will be held at 8 PM. Funeral Services will be held 11 AM Wednesday at the funeral home with Reverend Charles Ryu officiating. Interment will take place in the spring in the Cemetery of the Highlands in Highland Mills, NY with military honors.

   Memorial Contributions in Charlie’s name may be made to the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, 2150 Bleecker St., Utica, NY 13501 or to Cyprus Shrine Center, 27 Hannay Lane, Glenmont, NY 12077 for the Shrine Burn Hospital for Children in Boston.

    Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, Middletown, NY. 

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