October 6, 2001
Msgr. Charles Smith
Msgr. Smith was born in Yates Center, KS on February 23, 1914. Following his seminary studies at Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, MO he was ordained at Sacred Heart Jr. College in Wichita on May 31, 1945. As an assistant he served at St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Patrick Parish in Wichita and as pastor he served at Clonmel; St. Mark; Pittsburg and St. Francis of Assisi, Wichita. Among his other assignments he was president of Sacred Heart Jr. College, chaplain of Wichita Hospital, director of Catholic Charities, director of Calvary Cemetery, and vicar forane of the Pittsburg Deanery. In 1960 he was named a monsignor and in 1968 he took a leave of absence. He worked in parishes in Arizona and California and was helping at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Paso Robles, CA at the time of his death on October 6, 2001. Bishop Gerber was celebrant and homilist at his funeral Mass in St. Rose of Lima Parish. Msgr. Smith was buried in Old Mission Catholic Cemetery in San Luis Obispo, CA.