Charlie Thomas
Smisson, Jr., 73
DOVER - Charlie Thomas Smisson, Jr. passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, March 25, 2022.
Charlie was born July 1, 1948, in Annapolis, Maryland to the late Ada Kalonoske Smisson and Charlie Thomas Smisson, Sr.
Charlie grew up in Annapolis where he attended St. Mary's High School. He then graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., with full honors. Upon his graduation, he underwent navigator training and was deployed overseas to serve in the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Taiwan where he met his wife, Carol. He served in the United States Air Force as a navigator on the C-5 Galaxy and retired with the rank of Major after 20 years of honorable service. He worked for the State of Delaware as the Director of the Energy Office. He also completed a Master of Business Administration degree from Wilmington University.
He was a member of the Dover Air Force Base Chapel and Holy Cross Catholic Church, both in Dover, as well as the American Legion Walter L. Fox Post #2. Charlie enjoyed gardening, traveling with his wife, golf, eating spicy foods, and watching his two favorite football teams, the Baltimore Ravens and the Air Force Academy Falcons. He also loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and his dog, Coco.
In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Christopher Smisson.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Hsiao-Huei "Carol" Smisson of Dover; children, Burton Thomas Smisson and his wife Adrienne of Raleigh, N.C., and Cassandra Smisson Hayes and her husband Cody of Houston, Texas; sister, Mary Smisson Wagner of Gray, Ga.; and grandchildren, Makena, and Olivia.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:50 a.m., Friday, April 1, 2022, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 632 S. State Street, Dover, DE 19901. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Rt. 10), Dover. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. For those unable to attend the funeral service, there will be a livestream on www.torbertfuneral.com that can be found under the "Upcoming Livestreams" tab and viewed by clicking on his name.
Letters of condolence may be sent and guest book signed at www.torbertfuneral.com
Flowers can be sent to Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover, DE 19901 or the family suggests contributions be made to American Legion Charities. https://mylegion.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Give/Donate-Online/Donate-Now?CashProductId=134413