Carl Oliphant Smith, of Topeka, Kansas, died July 27, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital.
He was born on May 27, 1917 in Vincennes, IN to Carl E. and Eva Oliphant Smith. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelors and masters in economics, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (music honorary).
He married Ruth Ellen Chenoweth in 1943; she predeceased him in 1996.
He is survived by a son, Miles O. Smith (Priscilla Angly) of Houston, TX, and he was predeceased by a second son, Kirk O. Smith.
He joined Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Saint Louis in 1940, then moved to Kansas City and then to Topeka in 1952, and retired in 1982 as a fourth level division manager. He used his abilities as a choral conductor to lead an amateur group of SWB employees known as the "Bell-aires."
He was active in scouting-holding the Silver Beaver decoration. He was an active member of the Fortnightly Club, Senior Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Optimist Club, and several Masonic organizations.
He and his wife were long time members of First Presbyterian Church of Topeka, where he served as tenor soloist in the choir for twenty years. He was a regular tenor soloist in operatic productions and concerts in Kansas City and Topeka, including some with the Topeka Civic Symphony Orchestra, building on a hobby which he began in college as a way of earning extra money by playing saxophone and clarinet.
The family wish to thank the staff of Saint Francis Hospital and special friend Margaret Fluke and her family for their loving care and support.
Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 22, 2013, at the First Presbyterian Church. Private inurnment will be at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 817 SW Harrison, Topeka, KS 66612.
Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel is assisting with arrangements.