Obituary of Felix C. Smith

Felix C. Smith, 90, of Post Avenue, passed away Saturday evening at the Edward L. Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility in Amsterdam. Born May 9, 1917 in New York City, NY, he was the son of the late Felix M. and Clara Egbert Smith. Felix was a graduate of the Jamaica High School in New York City and graduated from the SUNY College in Farmingdale where he received an Associates Degree in Dairy Manufacturing. In 1946 he moved to Tribes Hill. Felix was a U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran of WWII where he was assigned to the 753rd Bomb Squad at the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was an Intelligence Specialist of the 14th Combat Wing and was in charge of maps and target files, distributing maps to flight personnel and for keeping all maps and related data up to date by making daily corrections based on reconnaissance data. Serving with the European Theatre Operations Felix participated in the European Campaigns of the Air Offensive of Europe; Ardennes; Central Europe; Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland. Felix was employed as a food Inspector for the New York state Office of General Services and later he worked for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets in Albany for many years until retiring in 1974. Felix was a member, Elder and former Deacon of the Tribes Hill Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the John L. Wyszomirski Post 701 American Legion; a member and volunteer for many years at the American Red Cross; volunteer at the Amsterdam Memorial Hospital; and a volunteer at the Edward L Wilkinson R.H.C.F. until two years ago; member of the Fish & Game Club of Tribes Hill; and a former member of the Tribes Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Felix was married on June 1, 1946 to the former Marion Runkle. Besides his wife he is survived by two daughters, Susan Smith of Johnstown, NY and Nancy Edward Cole of Gloversville, NY; two grandchildren, Pamela Cole and Jeffrey Jennifer Cole; four great grandchildren, Tyler, Alicia, Brady and Casey; and several cousins. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2007, at 11:00 am at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, with the Rev. Lois Dodge officiating. Burial will take place in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Tribes Hill with full Military Honors. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Felix?s memory to the Tribes Hill Presbyterian Church, Mohawk Drive, Tribes Hill, NY 12177 or to the Tribes Hill Volunteer Fire Department, 280 Mohawk Drive, Tribes Hill, NY 12177.