Charles Franklin Smith

Charles "Franklin" Smith, 74, of Benton, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. He grew up in Etowah and graduated from McMinn High School. He spent four years in the United States Air Force which brought him to California where he was recruited by Hughes Aircraft. He spent the next 30 years working in their missile program, He was part of the team that successfully soft landed the "Surveyor" on the moon. His dream was always to come back home to his beloved Tennessee. He was able to live that dream for the last 20 years of his life on this earth. Now he has moved on to the city where the streets are paved with gold and gates are made of pearl where he will continue to live for all eternity. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marietta Gail Smith; five children, Brenda Gail Hessee of Strafford, MO, Terry Lynn Garofolo of Benton, Deanna Marie Scott of Chino Hills, CA, Charyl Ann Watz of Colorado Springs, CO and Charles Aud Smith of Navarre Beach, FL; 8 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and two sisters, Jenella Trew of Galesburg, IL and Brenda Watson of Etowah. A celebration of life will be held during visitation on Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Oak Grove Baptist Church. Interment will follow the visitation at Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. We invite you view the guestbook and send a note of sympathy to the Smith