Charlotte R Smith

Charlotte R. Smith, 97, died peacefully October 6, at Hospice House in Tallahassee, Florida. Charlotte was born July 29, 1917 in Columbus, Ohio to Anna Leupp Rauscher and Charles Rauscher. After graduation from Grandview High School and Stenographers School, she was rewarded by her parents with a trip to visit friends in Bradenton, Florida. After being taken with the area, Charlotte convinced her family to leave Ohio and move to Florida with her.

She arrived in Bradenton in 1935 where she would later meet the “love of her life” Walter J. Smith, Jr., who was stationed at Drew Field in Tampa during WWII. Soon after the war ended in 1945, they were married and built a life and business together for the next thirty-four years until Walter’s passing in 1979. Charlotte then worked for Manatee County until she retired at age 70, later moving to Tallahassee to be closer to her daughter and family. She was an adoring mother and grandmother who delighted in spending time with her family whether it was traveling or simply going to lunch. Charlotte enjoyed crocheting caps for the infants at Tallahassee Memorial as well as many for the babies of family and friends. She was an avid reader and Tampa Bay Rays baseball fan not to mention poet to those who knew her best.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Walter, and her sister Wilma Wolfe. She is survived by her only child, Sue Jones (Charlie) of Monticello, FL; Granddaughters Amanda Humphress Smith (Justin) of Panama City Beach, FL; and Laura Ann Humphress Toussaint (Scott) of Palo Alto, CA; along with several dear nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, October 8, at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home on Riggins Road with burial at Manasota Memorial Park in Bradenton, Florida at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Leon County Humane Society for their Rescue Joy Ride Fundraising Challenge.