Charles Bowman Smith

Charles Bowman Smith, 1916-2011 Charles Bowman Smith died Thursday, June 9, 2011 at Emory Eastside Medical Center, Snellville, GA from causes incident to age. He lived the longest of any of his known Smith, Bowman or McCollum ancestors. He was born December 21, 1916 on the family farm in Monroe/Loudon Counties, TN that is now partly Rarity Bay and Tellico Lake. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. James Garland Maude McCollum Smith. In 1932, at age 16, Charles moved to Maryville, TN with his family during the Great Depression. He studied electricity and worked at ALCOA before marrying Frances Thomas of McCaysville, GA. They were married 67 years until her passing in 2006. In the 1950's, Charles and Frances ran a restaurant in Alcoa, TN and a gift shop in Fontana, NC. He then joined Sears in Knoxville, TN and in 1966 transferred to the Clearwater, FL store. Living on the Gulf of Mexico, Charles loved to fish the local waters with his buddy and brother-in-law, H.L. Crownover. In 1985, he and Frances retired to the Atlanta area to be near their only child, Marion, and the four grandchildren. They settled in Lawrenceville in 1995. A modest man, Charles was an active gardener, asking about his tomatoes on the day he died. He was famous within the family for his homemade banana bread and he didn't miss many televised sports events, particularly the Tennessee Vols. After Frances passed, his poodle, Dolly, and nearby daughter, Marion, were his life. Charles is survived by his daughter, Marion S. Butcher of Lawrenceville, GA and a sister, Katherine Maloney of Johnson City, TN. Siblings, Helen Crownover of Tampa, FL, Alice Trundle of Maryville, TN and James G. Smith V, Kaneohe, HI predeceased him. He had four grandchildren, Brian Lee Butcher Kathleen of Alpharetta, GA and Eric Scott Butcher Deborah of Suwanee, GA, Russell Allen Butcher of Alpharetta, GA and Allison Butcher Dunsmuir Scott of Alpharetta, GA and eight great grandchildren, Hannah Butcher, Andrew Butcher, Kayla Butcher, Cody Butcher, Justin Butcher, Jesse Butcher, Mason Dunsmuir and Laurel Dunsmuir. Barry McDaniel of Lawrenceville has been a trusted and faithful friend since 1992. A brief graveside memorial service will be held Saturday, June 25 at 11:30am at Gwinnett Memorial Park, 935 US Hwy. 29 S., Lawrenceville, GA. Immediately thereafter friends and family are invited to visit and enjoy lunch at Charles' home. Memorial gifts may be made to a charity of choice in Charles' honor. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wagesandsons.com.