David L. Smith

David L. Smith, of Duck Lake, died on Monday, November 22nd, 2021, at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall. Dave practiced law in Charlotte for 57 years and served on many charitable and municipal boards throughout the years. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and will often be remembered for sightings of his hot air balloon, “Rainbow Drifter,” over the skies of Charlotte and Duck Lake, with their usual crew of brother-in-law, David Powers and his wife Christyne. Dave enjoyed woodworking and boat building and he spent the past year building an 1860 Henry Rifle. He was known as a local Civil War Historian and he proudly shared the stories of his ancestors that fought at Gettysburg and Kennesaw Mountain.
Service to the community was important to Dave, but the loves of his life were family and his life at Duck Lake with Linda. He was a caring and selfless man who would make time for anyone. You always knew he listened, because weeks after an encounter, he would see you again and follow up on the previous conversation. He was a man of the highest integrity and character and his life will continue to be an inspiration for those who were fortunate enough to know him.
David Lowell Smith was born on August 28th, 1939 to Clifford Elwood Smith and Louise M. (Raidle) Smith in Charlotte, MI. He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1957 and earned his BA from Alma College in 1961. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of Michigan in 1962 and his Juris Doctorate from Detroit College of Law in 1965. After passing the State Bar in 1965, he began practicing law with his uncle, Stanley Raidle. He settled his family on the George O. Smith family farm on Lawrence Avenue. He served as the Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney beginning in 1972 and in 1973, he was reunited with his high school sweetheart and his soulmate, Linda Sue Powers. Dave and Linda created their own version of “Yours, Mine and Ours” in December of 1974, when they married at the Charlotte Congregational Church.
Dave is survived by two daughters, Lisa (Joe) Feistritzer of Ada and Amy (Donald) Huff of Lansing; four step-children, David (Tracy) Reed of Glendale, Arizona; Chris (Elena) Reed of Charlotte; Doug (Jen) Reed of Charlotte; and Sarah (Rob) Williams of Charlotte; sixteen grandchildren; nine great grandchildren with the tenth on the way next year; and sisters Linda Deland of Chelsea and Chris (Rick) Kent of Brule Ridge.
Dave was preceded in death by his beautiful wife of 45 years, Linda Sue; his parents, Clifford and Louise Smith of Charlotte; and his beloved Golden Retrievers, Scout (2021) and Max (1994).
In keeping with Dave’s wishes, cremation has taken place and the family is planning a celebration of life to honor Dave in the Spring of 2022.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Dave’s honor to the Courthouse Square Association, P.O. Box 411, Charlotte, MI 48813, or Eaton Community Palliative Care, 275 S. Cochran Ave., Charlotte, MI 48813.