Charles Russell Smith, 71, of Claypool, died at 9:05 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, at his residence where he had lived for over 45 years.

He was born Aug. 5, 1944 to Roy and Bertha (Holderman) Smith in Kosciusko County. He married his wife, Di Anne Blackburn, who survives, June 6, 1964, in the Harrison Center Church of Etna Green.

Smith was a pressman at R.R. Donnelly’s and Sons where he had worked for 40 years. He was a 1962 graduate of Mentone High School. He then served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War stationed in Panama. He was a member of the Warsaw American Legion Post 49. 

Surviving are his wife: Di Anne Smith, Claypool; a daughter: Michele (Scott) Fox, Warsaw; son: Troy (Sandy) Smith, Warsaw; grandsons: Chris Fox and Brandon Fox; a sister: Carol (Mike) Engle, Warsaw; several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents: Roy and Bertha Smith; brothers: Walter and John Smith; sister: Wanda Simcoe; and granddaughter: Courtney Fox.

No visitation or funeral will be held at this time by his request. Private family services will be held at the Mentone Cemetery with graveside military rites being preformed by the Warsaw American Legion Post 49.

Arrangements are entrusted to King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Fund or Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice.