Gordon W Smith

Rev. Gordon W. Smith 85 of Rotterdam died on Friday morning July 27th at Baptist Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Scotia after a long illness. Born in Sherburne, NY, He was the son of the late Gordon and Edna (Aylesworth) Smith. Rev. Smith prepared for his vocation by studying at Hartwick College in Oneonta, then at New York Theological Institute in New York City, then he returned upstate and preached at three small communities near Cooperstown-Westville, Middlefield and Roseboom- before heading to Wells Bridge Baptist Church near Sidney, where he stayed for about 12 years. He and his wife Charline moved to Schenectady in August 1958, making new friends at Calvary Baptist Church. They stayed at Calvary until1969; illness sidelined the pastor for three years and he returned to preaching in 1972 as an assistant at Bellevue Reformed Church for six years He then moved across town to Mont Pleasant Baptist Church in 1978 where he was pastor until his retirement. A member of Bellevue reformed Church he is survived by his wife of 62 years Charline (Hazen) Smith who he married on July 21, 1945, a son Mark H. Smith of Rotterdam and two grandsons, Marc Smith of Woods Hole, MA and Sean Smith of Scotia. A memorial services will be held on Thursday evening August 2, 2007 at 6 pm at Bond Funeral Home, Broadway & Guilderland Ave., Schenectady, NY. Contributions may be made in rev. Smith memory to Bellevue Reformed Church, 2000 Broadway, Schenectady, NY 12306 or to the Baptist health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 297 North Ballston Avenue, Scotia, NY 12302.