Charles Raymond Smith, 81, Valley Falls died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at Linnwood Park Senior Care in Meriden.
He was born on Oct. 26, 1930, south of Valley Falls, the son of Charles L. and Lucille Bledsoe Smith. He graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1948.
Raymond worked for 37 years at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Topeka, retiring in 1990. He was a member of Local 307 Rubber Workers Union and the Topeka Moose Lodge. Raymond also farmed south of Valley Falls.
He married Betty Ruth Brown on Jan. 14, 1949, at Valley Falls. She died on Nov. 27, 1991. He married Teresa M. Erhart on April 30, 1994. She died on Oct. 27, 2004. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Donald Smith, and a son-in-law, Jim Vineyard.
Survivors include two daughters, Mikie R. Smith, Topeka, and Brenda (Bill) Klatt, McPherson; a son, Steven A. (Diane) Smith, Topeka; a brother, Norman Smith, Valley Falls; seven stepchildren, Richard (Rose Ann) Erhart, Mary (Steve) Underwood, Kenny (Trudy) Erhart, Alvin (Denise) Erhart, Charles (Pam) Erhart, Dale (Tammy) Erhart, and Alice (Mike) Henning; 18 grandchildren, Ryan Kimberlin, Donald, Robert, David, Melody, Joe, Chris, Justin, Jonathan, Matt, Amy, and Cymbree Erhart, Kelly Hernandez, Christena Creason, Eric Underwood, Beth Steffen, Ashley Michaels, and Kelsey Henning; and six great-grandchildren, Wyatt Kimberlin, Owen and Jackson Underwood, Kennadi & Emmarie Hernandez and Jayleigh Michaels.
The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Burial will follow at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday. Memorial contributions may be made to Jefferson County District 11, EMS, or to the Jefferson County Service Organization and sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088.