Lyle Edward Schmidt

Lyle Edward Schmidt, Lt Col USAF (Ret.) 83, of Bowie, Maryland, died Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, at the Mandrin House in Harwood, Maryland having suffered a stroke six weeks prior.

Lyle was born on June 14, 1928, Flag Day, in Axtell, Kansas, the fourth child of Minnie E. (Van Dorn) and Edward E. Schmidt. His family lived along US36 and decided to "sell all those cars some gas". Smittyville service began (1935) with hand-operated gas pumps, oil, honey, bread, candy, cigarettes, snuff and tire repair. Next came the salvaging of used cars for parts/sales. Electricity came in 1940 allowing Smittyville to have refrigerated pop, cold meats and cheeses and an automatic electric air compressor. The family business expanded in 1941 with hot and cold water system, a toilet and shower (the two outside privies remained for the customers), an electric gas pump, a honey house, a salt and hide house.
At the age of 14, Lyle met his future bride, Glenna Mae Baker, also of Axtell, Kansas. They married in 1949 just days after he turned 21, the legal age he could marry without his mother's permission. That same year Lyle graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in Business Administration – Accounting. He enjoyed teaching high school in Wamego, KS before being called by the U.S. Air Force to fulfill his ROTC obligation. Lyle served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force as a criminal investigator for the Office of Special Investigation and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Together Lyle and Glenna served their country traveling the world to numerous duty locations including Wichita, KS; Omaha, NE; Colorado Springs, CO; Long Island, NY; Morocco, Africa; Wiesbaden and Bonn Germany; Boston, MA; and Washington, DC. Following his 1975 retirement from the Air Force, Lyle worked for HUD Office of Inspector General and traveled with Secretary Patricia Harris as her bodyguard. Later he became a contract Special Agent for the U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Information Agency. In 1988, his instincts and investigative skills led him to uncover (successfully prosecuted) the largest embezzlement (approx. $1 million) by a single U.S. Government employee, at that time.
Lyle enjoyed golf, photography, traveling, gardening, ocean views, colorful sunsets, his many friends and the love of his family. "Lovable Lyle" was a comedian at heart. While his manner may have been perceived as ornery by some, Lyle always intended to lighten a moment and to bring laughter to everyone. He was a generous man of great character who chose ethics, respect, and dignity as a way of life.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Margaret Quigg, Ernest and Dennis Schmidt; brother-in-law Wes Baker; son-in-law Stephen Hoffman; and many friends.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years; three children Vicki, Bruce and Lori; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Lt. Col. Schmidt will be remembered during visitation and funeral services on Tuesday, June 5 beginning at 12 Noon at Robert E. Evans Funeral Home, 16000 Annapolis Road, Bowie, MD 20715 (301-464-8836), followed by burial at 3:00 pm in Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Highway Cheltenham, Maryland 20623.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in memory of Lt. Col. Schmidt to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or the Fischer House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850 or visit www.Fisherhouse.org.