Charles O. Smith, Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired)
September 22, 1926 – September 20, 1995

Retired Col. Charles O. Smith, 68, died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 1995, at his residence in Laguna Vista.

The Orange, Texas, native served in the U.S. Navy in 1944-45. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1950 after which he was commissioned in the United States Air Force. He served in the Strategic Air Command, later served as a helicopter pilot, was a squadron commander in the Vietnam War in 1966-67 where he received the distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star. Smith received a master’s degree at Texas A&M University in 1970 and retired as a colonel in the Air Force at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio in 1973.

Upon his retirement from the Air Force, he worked for Bell Helicopter in Isfahan, Iran, and later for North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) in Denton. He had resided in Laguna Vista for the past seven years.

He is survived by two sons, Charles Stuart Smith of Grapevine and Robert David Smith of Brighton, Colo.; a daughter, Missy Smith Finger of Denton; two brothers, Eddie Kessey of Tulsa and Peter Kessey of San Antonio; and two grandchildren. No local services will be held. Memorial donations may be made to the donor’s favorite charity.

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Lt. Col. Smith served in the Vietnam War as a CH-3C/E pilot with the 20th Helicopter Sq. “Pony Express” in the 1966-1967-time frame.