Dr. Charles Culberson Smith, age 86, passed away on June 28, 2024, in Northport, Alabama. Born on May 31, 1938, in Paris, Texas, Dr. Smith was a respected geologist and paleontologist whose career spanned several decades.
Dr. Smith began his education in Honey Grove, Texas, and later graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas. He served in the Army Reserves, where he trained at Ft. Bliss and Ft. Belvoir, excelling as a marksman and later working as a gunner. He completed his B.S. in Geology at the University of Texas at Austin in 1963, followed by an M.S. in Geology in 1967 from the University of Houston, finally earning his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Texas in 1973. His professional journey started at Tenneco Oil Company, leading to significant roles at Phillips Petroleum Company and the United States Geological Survey at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. The Geological Survey of Alabama was fortunate in 1987 to persuade Charlie to join the staff of the Survey where he made significant contributions to the citizens of Alabama. His work, particularly in coastal plain stratigraphy and paleontology, remains influential.
After his retirement from the Geological Survey of Alabama, Charlie took his love of research into a new arena; blowtorches. His interest in blowtorches began when he was a child watching his father solder copper pipe together to fix their farm equipment. He used his expertise in research, and sharing of that knowledge to build this hobby. He was an active member in the Blow Torch Collectors Association where he continued detailed research and documentation of the history of blowtorches. This led to co-authoring two blowtorch books sharing his knowledge and research with others.
Beyond his professional life, Dr. Smith was a dedicated family man. He is survived by his son Gregory and daughter Deborah Smith Ward (Greg Ward). He had two grandchildren, Brett Ward (Chloe), and Blythe Ward and two beautiful great-granddaughters, Hallie and Bristol.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles P. and Grayce Smith, his brothers, David Smith and James Dennis Smith.
Dr. Smith's life was marked by his kindness, generosity, dedication to family and education, and his significant contributions to geology and paleontology. He will be deeply missed by his family, colleagues, and many friends.
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