Longtime Janesville resident Charles Bent Smythe, age 92, died on Friday, March 27, at Azura Memory Care in Beloit, WI. He was born on June 1, 1927, in Bagley WI, the youngest child of William and Ada (Nix) Smythe. Charlie was named after Xenna Pearle Bent, lovingly referred to as “old doc Bent,” a female physician and good friend of his mother, who delivered him in an era when practicing females were a rarity in the medical profession. Charlie lived in and attended Benton schools until enlisting in the Navy in 1944 at the age of 17. He married Wilma Boldt on Nov. 25, 1948 in Dubuque, IA. Charlie moved his family to Janesville in 1954 and began his career with The Fisher Body Division of General Motors, working as a supervisor in the Soft Trim Department. He retired in 1987 and enjoyed spending many winters in Apache Junction AZ, as well as living in and renovating a beautiful home on Lake Winter in Winter, WI. Charlie and Wilma enjoyed life in northern Wisconsin and made many friends in Winter but moved back to Janesville to be closer to family.

Charles is survived by son Jerry (Vicki) Smythe, granddaughter Sarah (Cory) Shea and their daughter Ella, grandson Charles A. Smyth (significant other Nessa Benton), grandson Todd (Tanya) Chrostowski and their children Michael and Alexa, granddaughter Nikki (Ryan) Jagdfeld and granddaughter Tina (Ryan) Rice and their children Mia, Maraea, Mason and Macy, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma, daughter Rhonda (John) Shereck, siblings Vern “Red” Smythe, Norma (Art) Symons, Bill (Phyllis) Smythe, June (Ray) Tarkett and special friend Lealer White.

To conform with government mandates prohibiting public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, interment at the Primitive Methodist Cemetery in Benton Wisconsin, and a celebration of Charlie’s life will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to www.whitcomb-lynch.com.
Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home in Janesville is assisting the family.

The family thanks the staff at Azura Memory Care for providing Charlie with exceptional care and a home away from home during the past year.

*****
Charles B. Smythe, 92, Beloit, formerly of Janesville, died Friday at Azura Memory Care, Beloit. Services will be held this summer. Whitcomb-Lynch Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Janesville, is assisting the family.

*****
Year: 1930; Census Place: Benton, Lafayette, Wisconsin; Roll: 2579; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 6; Image: 760.0.
Name: Charles Smythe
Birth Year: abt 1928 [abt 1927]
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son (Child)
Home in 1930: Benton, Lafayette, Wisconsin
Dwelling Number: 156
Family Number: 161
Attended School:No
Father's Birthplace: Wisconsin
Mother's Birthplace: Illinois
Household Members:
Name Age
William Smythe 51
Ada Smythe 44
William Smythe 12
Norma Smythe 10
Dorothy Smythe 9
Verne Smythe 4 [4 8/12]
Charles Smythe 2 [2 9/12]

*****
New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957
U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949
Name: Charles Bent Smythe
Service # 321 93 00
Ship, Station or Activity: Custer
Ship Number or Designation: APA-40
Muster Date: 31 Jul 1945

*****
Name: Charles Smythe
Arrival Date: 25 Aug 1945
Birth Date: abt 1928
Age: 17
Ethnicity/ Nationality: American
Port of Departure: Savannah, Georgia
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Robert Toombs