Charles Peak Atwood

Charles P. Atwood, 81, passed away on Jan. 31, 2017 in Fort Smith, Ark. He was born on March 27, 1935 in Dallas, Texas, to Nellie Peak Atwood and Arthur Atwood. Charles grew up in Dallas, Texas, and attended Sunset High School. After high school, he attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also joined the army and was a member of the 82nd Airborne stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. In 1959, Charles moved to Fort Smith, Ark., and worked at Texas Automatic Sprinklers, Tip Top Mechanical and retired from Northwest Fire Protection in 2001. He is survived by his spouse of 52 years, Jayne, of Fort Smith; his daughter, Mindy and husband Keith West of El Dorado, Ark.; his niece, Shirley and husband Paul Veltman of Grand Prairie, Texas; brothers-in-law, Terry Smith of Hulbert, Okla., Tim Smith and wife Teresa, of St. Charles, Ill.; and sister-in-law, Laura and husband Charlie Strong of Van Alstyne, Texas. A visitation will be held at Edwards Funeral Home, from 2–4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 5. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Fort Smith, 1400 Grand Ave., at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 6. Burial will follow at RoseLawn Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Terry Smith, Tim Smith, Trent Smith, Charlie Strong, Michael Strong and Tommy Murphy. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to First Baptist Church's ministry, First Help, P.O. Box 609, Fort Smith, Ark. 72902. To sign an online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.