Carmen Smeltzer

CHARLTON - CARMEN WARREN SMELTZER, 68, passed away Saturday, March 12, 2011, at Harrington Memorial Hospital following a long battle with cancer.

Carmen is survived by his wife of 46 years, Emilie A. (Rieder) Smeltzer.  He leaves his daughters, Suzanne Tucker, and her husband, Tim of Charlton, and Heidi Smeltzer of Leicester.  He was known as Poppa to his four grandchildren; Caitlin Hughes & Cassandra Smeltzer of Southbridge; Bethany Smeltzer of Charlton, and Ethan Piehl of Leicester.  He also leaves a brother and sister-in-law, Roger & Linda Smeltzer, and two nephews, Timothy and Gregory Smeltzer, all of Southbridge.  A brother, Robert Smeltzer, predeceased him.

 He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, son of the late Charles & Lillian (Crouse) Smeltzer. He lived in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia until 1957 when his family moved to Charlton. He was a 1960 graduate of Charlton High School.

 He served in the US Army for three years between 1960-1963 in the 370th Engineering Company, stationed in Germany.

 He worked for many years in the fiber optics industry, beginning with Mosaic Fabrications, over 20 years at Galileo Fiber Optics in Sturbridge, Incom in Southbridge and Oxford Machinery Co. in Worcester. 

 He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, muzzleloading, hunting, fishing, cooking and trips to Nova Scotia; but most of all he enjoyed his family.  He was proud of his Nova Scotia heritage and enjoyed doing genealogical research on his Nova Scotia ancestors. He was a member of the South Shore Genealogical Society in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and the West Brookfield Genealogy Club in West Brookfield, MA.

 Relatives & friends are invited to attend calling hours on Wednesday, March 16th from 6-8 PM in the Belanger Bullard Funeral Home, 51 Marcy Street, Southbridge, MA 01550

There will be a short service at 8:00 PM.

Burial in Westridge Cemetery in Charlton will be private and held at a later date.             

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Radiation – Oncology At UMASS 55 Lake Ave North, Worcester, MA.   01655

To view the video tribute, please click the following link:

http://memorial.yourtribute.com/carmensmeltzer/