Charles Smitley

CHARLES EUGENE SMITLEY, 83, passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home in Fort Wayne. 

      He was born in Van Wert, Ohio on March 25, 1934. He was the son of the late Fern and Harold Smitley. Charles was a graduate of Indiana Central College with a degree in Business Education and earned his Master’s Degree from Ball State University.  He was a teacher for the Jay County School Corporation for 38 years; including tenures in Madison Township High School, Portland High School, and Jay County High School.  He was the owner of Charles Smitley Realty in Portland Indiana for approximately 20 years. Charles served in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1958. He was an active Deacon and Worship Leader at the First Baptist Church of Portland for many years and continued serving the Lord in many capacities. He married Jimmie Lyn (Platt) Smitley on July 22, 1956 at Evangelical United Brethren Church and they were married for 61 years.

     Surviving include:

His wife of 60 years: Jimmie Lyn Smitley – Fort Wayne

1 daughter Cynthia (Phillip) Stumph, Azle, Texas

3 sons Gregory (Patricia) Smitley, Fort Wayne, Indiana

           Mark (Lorri) Smitley, Littleton, Colorado

           Bruce Smitley,  Miami, Florida

9 grandchildren, Brad Stumph, Kelly Stumph, Kara Stumph, Lara Hillenberg, Alex Smitley (deceased), Lisa Smitley, Chad Christofferson, Brian Christofferson and Alissa Christofferson; and four great-grandchildren, Eli Stumph, Gus Stumph, Amelia Smitley and Ava Hillenberg.

     He has two brothers Richard Smitley, and James Smitley (deceased) and two sisters Jane Hathaway and Martha Loy (deceased).

      He was a tireless and dedicated educator, with a heart for his community, but his greatest passions and most cherished pursuits were as a servant of the Lord and a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

     Visitation will be on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home in Portland, Indiana and 1 hour prior to the service on Friday.  Funeral services will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. at Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home in Portland.  Burial will follow in the Green Park Cemetery in Portland.

     Donations may be given in honor of Charles Smitley to the American Red Cross, Samaritans Purse, or The Mustard Seed ministry in Fort Wayne, IN

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