Charles Alexander Smitley

Smitley, Charles Alexander, 88, of Lawrence, Kansas formerly of Wichita, Kansas died June 18, 2013 at his daughter Teresa’s home. Funeral Services will be held at Saint John’s Episcopal Church in Wichita on Saturday June 22, 2013 at 1:00pm. Interment will be at Resthaven Cemetery, Wichita, with military honors. He was so loved and will be so missed. Charles was born March 18, 1925 in Junction City, Kansas. He was born at home during one of the largest tornadoes in Midwest history. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Lillian and 4 siblings, Phoebe, Cora May, Charlene and Harry. Charles served in the Navy during WWII on the USS Leonis in the South Pacific. He transferred to the newly created Air Force in 1945 from which he retired in 1965. After his military retirement, Charles continued to work in the aircraft industry of Wichita, KS. At age 62 Charles began working at St John’s Episcopal Church until age 78. Of all his life’s work, this was his favorite as this was an opportunity for him to use knowledge he gained in the military and his creative skills to both enhance the lives of the church members and his own through betterment of the church. He is survived by his 5 children, Teresa Renee Smitley-Kaiser and husband Danny of Lawrence, Charles Norman Smitley II and wife Teresa Click, Ginger L. Stauffer-Camacho and husband Joel, Richard Alexander Smitley, Jacque Michele Smitley-McCandless and husband Wayne all of Wichita; his 6 grandchildren: Cainan Kennedy, Zachary Kennedy, Amanda Trask, Emilie Stauffer, Charles Stauffer and Alexander Smitley ; his 6 great grandchildren: Ashlyn Kennedy, Skylar Kennedy, Sophia Langdon, Alexis Trask, Jaden Trask and Severon Stauffer; and his 17 year old cat Skeeter. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hospice of Lawrence, KS and the Lawrence Humane Society. Condolences may be offered at www.resthavenmortuary-cemetery.com.
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