Judge Charles Edgar Smith, a lifelong resident of Vero Beach, FL, passed away January 2, 2019. He was born in Vero Beach Florida on December 13, 1929, to the late Sherman N. Smith Sr. and his wife Birdie Lenon Bandy Smith who moved to Vero Beach in 1925 from Crossville TN.

Judge Smith graduated from Vero Beach High School in 1948 and in 1952 from Florida State University in Tallahassee Florida. Judge Smith received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida Law School in Gainesville, Florida in 1954. He was a practicing lawyer in Vero Beach and a partner with the law firm of Mitchell, Smith and Mitchell, and later Smith, Heath, Smith and O'Haire, for 22 years until his appointment in 1979 by Governor Rueben Askew as Circuit Court Judge for the 19th Judicial Circuit. He continued unopposed as a Circuit Judge and a Senior Judge for more than 25 years, serving in Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties. After his retirement, he continued to serve in many counties in Florida as a Senior Circuit Judge. In 2005 as a Senior Judge he presided over a landmark Civil case in Stuart, Florida. The case, Stone vs. O'Brian, was filmed by television network Court TV. At that time cameras in Florida courtrooms were very controversial.

Judge Smith was a member of the Florida Bar for more than 60 years. During his judicial career, he was active in the Florida Bar Association as a member and Chairman of the Civil Rules Committee. He was also a member of the Indian River County Bar Association for 60 years; a past President and 50-year member of the Kiwanis Club of Vero Beach. Judge Smith was a member of the First Methodist Church of Vero Beach and later a Charter member of Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church.

After his retirement as a Senior Circuit Judge, he continued his legal profession as a Certified Mediator and Arbitrator in many counties in Florida until his retirement in 2008. In his personal life, he was an enthusiastic sportsman and traveled to most all the world continents.

Judge Smith is survived by his wife of more than 65 years Dorothy W. Smith, their four children, Alison Lee Seabrook and her husband Paul Rud; Reynolds W. Smith and his fiancee Kaye Weatherald; Scott C. Smith and his wife Kathy Smith; Lynn Seabrook Smith and her partner Terry Lease. He has two grandchildren, Ryan W. Smith and Morgan Gayle Mount and husband Blake Mount, of Florida. He was predeceased by his parents, his sisters Wanda Smith Knowles and Anna Rose Smith Ross and brother Sherman N. Smith Jr.

The memorial service will be held at the Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church of Vero Beach on Friday, January 11, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. Contributions in Judge Smith's memory may be made to Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church in Vero Beach or the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach.