Edmund Schneider

SCHNEIDER Edmund Schneider, age 91, and resident of Columbus, OH departed this earth to join his beloved wife of 48 years, Rita Gehring, and son David on Tuesday morning, June 19, 2012. Edmund was the great-great grandson of both Fairfield County and Delaware County German settlers. Edmund was always fond of recounting stories of family visits to Lancaster and Delaware, and the original family farm and homes remain standing today. Edmund was born and raised in Columbus, OH, attended Holy Rosary Elementary, then graduated St. Charles Borromeo Preparatory School with the Class of '38. He attended OSU to study civil engineering prior to WWII, which led to his becoming a Battalion Master Sergeant in the 140th Field Artillery HQ Battery of the 37th Division, Ohio National Guard, during his three and a half year deployment in the Pacific Theater. Battling the Japanese through the Solomon Islands, the Fijis, New Guinea, and the Philippines with his team, Edmund was most proud of his Bronze Star and Philippine Liberation Medal, among many others. He was lifelong Treasurer of the 37th Division WWII Veterans Chapter, and has long been credited with "keeping the gang together" by organizing the annual Reunions for the 37th and the 140th throughout the U.S. and Ohio. Ed was also a lifetime member of the VFW Reynoldsburg Post 9473. Edmund began to see America at a young age. He won trips as a newspaper boy, taking special "newsboy trains" to Washington, DC; the 1936 Indy 500; Chicago, Detroit, and Niagara Falls; the Cleveland Great Lakes Exposition; Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH; and, he got to ride the paddle wheeler, The Island Queen, on the Ohio River from Cincinnati to Coney Island. He was a youth marble champion, too. Edmund worked at the old Washington Brewery at 3rd & Perry, at City Ice & Fuel on Hudson Street; he carried mail for the U.S. Postal Service; and, he worked as a fireman on the C&O Railroad. He worked with Ritter Lumber as civil engineer before the war, and Bell Telephone immediately after as an appraiser/surveyor. His engineering career began with the Ohio Dept of Wildlife and he finally retired as a chief engineer from the Ohio Dept of Natural Resources. Both Edmund and Rita were devoted Catholics and lifelong members of St. Catharine Parish, although Ed was a "regular" at weekday Masses at Christ the King, and St. Mary's in German Village where he married Rita in 1951. Ed "never met a stranger" no matter where in the world he traveled, and he was always a friend to anyone in need. He has long been considered quite the Columbus and Ohio historian, and he could readily recount the most incredible details of life here from the '20s through to present day. Edmund is preceded in death by beloved wife Rita (died 1997), and his son David (died 2011). He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Sabo and husband John; sons, Michael and Stephen; daughter-in-law, Karin; and his grandchildren, Alex and Gregory Sabo, Rachel, Garrett, and Jordan Schneider. Edmund is also survived by his sister, Mary Ann; as well as many nieces and nephews. Friends may call on Sunday, June 24 from 2-5 p.m. at EGAN-RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 403 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 25th at St. Catharine Church, 500 S. Gould Rd., Columbus, OH. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Lockbourne, OH. Visit www.egan-ryan.com to offer condolences.