Charles Smith

Charles Whitney Smith, 84, of Odessa, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2008 at Parks Methodist Retirement Village following an illness of several months. BRBRWhitney was born November 15, 1924, in Joplin, Missouri, the youngest child of the late Charles C. and Ollie Rafferty Smith. BRBRWhitney graduated from Joplin High School in 1942 and the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. Following his graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Whitney was a veteran of World War II and had attained the rank of Lieutenant at the time of his honorable discharge. After his time in the service, Whitney went to work for the Dallas Morning News as a cub reporter. He was then recruited by Sears and Roebuck and moved to Hollywood, California, to do marketing writing and advertising. He rose up through the ranks and was the editor of the Sears Employee Magazine for the Western Division. He was then promoted to the position of New Store Opening Co-Coordinator for the Sears Western Division. Following his retirement from Sears, he had a career in real estate in California. BRBRHe was a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Odessa. BRBRWhitney enjoyed reading and was a great conversationalist. BRBRWhitney was preceded in death by his brother, J. Kenneth Smith; three sisters, Nadine Reynolds, Frances Tetrick and Jean Bodner; and his lifelong friend, Bob King. BRBRWhitney was loved by his nieces and nephews which include the following: Debra Witcher of Midland, Texas, Allegra Hanson of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Steve W. Smith of Roswell, New Mexico, Richard and Bill Tetrick of Elizabethton, Tennessee, and Ken and Drew Bodner of Kansas City, Kansas. BRBRServices will be held at a later date at Ozark Memorial Park in Joplin, Missouri. Memorial donations in Whitney's name may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church. BRBR

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