Honoring the Memory
of Those
We Love

Charles Donald “Don” Smith died peacefully on July 24, 2025, in Naples, FL. He was 91. Don rose from humble beginnings and considered himself the living embodiment of the American dream. Born on July 13, 1934 in Brodhead, KY, to Charles and Ruth Parsons Smith, on a small family farm. He and his identical twin brother Ron weighed 7 lbs. combined. The doctor told Ruth they were too small to survive, but she Ruth wrapped them in blankets and placed them close to the open oven to keep warm. They named the boys “Donnie & Ronnie”. When Don turned 14, the family moved to Somerset, KY so the boys could attend high school. Don played varsity baseball and basketball for the Somerset Briar Jumpers and competed in the Kentucky State Basketball tournament for two consecutive seasons. In Somerset, the family got to know the Pulaski County Judge, John Sherman Cooper, a future US Senator and diplomat. He took an interest in the boys’ development and employed them on campaigns for the US Senate and for Governor of Kentucky. Senator Cooper was an enduring inspiration and positive influence. Don attended Georgetown College of Kentucky, and received a BS in Business Administration. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and was voted “Most Popular Boy” at the school. He played first base for the Georgetown varsity baseball team. After college, he attended Naval Officers’ Candidate School in Newport, RI. He would spend three years as an officer in the US Navy, including tours on the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal, and Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Don joined Ashland Oil Company in 1956. In 1964, he was transferred to Pittsburgh, where he met his future wife, Beth Wehrle. They were married on April 16, 1966. In March 1968, Beth and Don welcomed a son, Hunter Cooper Smith, into the family. Don left Ashland in 1974 to found his own company, Reserve Petroleum, in Pittsburgh. The company grew rapidly, eventually employing over 100 people. When Pittsburgh’s economic situation hit bottom in the late 1980’s, Don founded Frontier Fuels that would be much smaller but also successful. This enabled Don and Beth to have a comfortable retirement in Pittsburgh and in Naples, Florida and to travel to many parts of the US and the world in their 60’s and 70’s. Don was a social and enjoyed many close long-term friendships. He always loved following politics. In his later years he suffered from neurodegenerative illnesses. Don benefited from countless hours of joy playing with his grandchildren, who nicknamed him “Peppercorn Pa”. He was predeceased by his twin brother Ron. Don leaves behind his wife Beth (Naples, FL), of 59 years, his son Hunter and wife Marcy (New Canaan, CT), and three grandchildren Maddie, Virginia and Ned Smith. They were the joys of his life. The funeral will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Georgetown College: www.georgetowncollege.edu/support/ways-to-give.