Richard A. Schenck

Richard A. Schenck Richard Arthur Schenck, better known to his friends and relatives as "Dick", passed away peacefully at his ranch outside of Dripping Springs, on Friday morning, July 11, 2008. He spent his last day with friends and relatives out in the hill country around Cypress Mills. Dick was born September 3, 1919, in Austin, Texas to Hannah and Botho Schenck. He was the great-grandson of the well-known Texas Romantic landscape painter Hermann Lungkwitz, whose portrait and landscapes have graced the walls of Governor's mansion in Austin, in addition to being collected by the major museums around the state. After joining the military twice and being kicked out twice (for being under the required age limit), he was finally accepted by the Texas National Guard in 1937, where he was a member of the 36th Infantry Division at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. During World War II, Staff Sergeant Schenck was on a European tour with the 878th Ordinance Heavy Auto Maintenance Company from 1940 to 1945, when he was honorably discharged. He received the EAME Campaign Medal with three Bronze stars. He returned to Austin and worked on the construction of Mansfield Dam for several years. In 1948, he married Barbara Helen Davis of Austin and enjoyed a happy, colorful marriage with her for 53 years until her death in 2002. He was employed by the U.S. Post Office as a mail carrier for over 25 years in Austin, while simultaneously working as a ranch foreman and part-time cowboy out in the hill country. Following in his great-grandfather's footsteps, Dick was a member of the Austin Saengerrunde at Scholz Garten for over 25 years and enjoyed singing and touring with the men's choir for many years. He was also actively involved in the Austin German-Texan Heritage Society, and was featured in their documentary "Off to Texas", based on his ancestors, the artists Hermann Lungkwitz and Richard Petri. He had a lifelong fascination with World War I airplanes and was a devoted member of the Vintage Aviation Historical Foundation at the Old Kingsbury Aerodrome Airport in Kingsbury, Texas, where he helped restore many classic planes. He was an excellent artist and a talented harmonica player, who loved hunting and befriending wild deer and foxes on his ranch. Sharing laughter and good stories with his many friends and relatives was the top priority in his life. He was a romantic, a dreamer, and an extraordinary wit - a wise old soul who was young at heart. In a word - irreplaceable. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Terrell of Rosebud; his daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Randy Schmidt, of Austin; and his son, Rocky Schenck of Los Angeles, California. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dietrich Schmidt of Dallas and Audrey Schmidt of Baltimore, Maryland. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2008 in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home officiated by Bo Henry, Minister. In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions made in Dick's memory to the German-Texan Heritage Society, Attn: Helga Von Schweinitz, P.O. 684171, Austin, Texas, 78768-4171, (512)482-0927, www.germantex ans.org. http://www.mem.com