John Ernest Schwartz, Sr.

Our dear John Ernest Schwartz, Sr., 87, went to be with the Lord on Monday, November 10, 2025, in a tragic vehicular accident near his homeplace in the Wall area.

John was born on November 27, 1937, to Ernest and Ida Schwartz of Wall. As the baby of nine children, he was the only child to be born in a hospital. John was the favorite doll of his older sister, Bernice, as she dressed him up and curled his hair. When John was ten, his father was killed in an accident while going fishing. John quickly learned resilience and resourcefulness at an early age, and these traits equipped him to lead a successful life in every aspect.

Graduating from San Angelo High School after attending Fairview, John went on to attend San Angelo College. Along the way, classmate Genevieve Debus of Wall caught his eye, and they were married August 30, 1958, in Wall.

Together, John and Genevieve lovingly raised four children and prospered on the family farm. As a farmer and rancher, John was not only a dedicated husband and father who instilled values of faith and hard work into his children, he also continually served his community throughout his life as a true American patriot.

John was a founding member and the first fire chief of the Wall Volunteer Fire Department. He served on numerous boards, including holding offices of president and other positions, for Wall Co-op, Tom Green County Farm Bureau, Texas Farm Bureau, Tom Green County Soil and Water Conservation District, and First Financial Bank. For school, he was heavily involved in Wall Young Farmers and Future Farmers of America. Stock showing and raising pigs were forever in his blood. He also enjoyed being a spotter for the home football games of the Wall Hawks, always decked out in his green and white attire. John was a lifelong devout member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church, being on parish council and in the Knights of Columbus.

Enjoying life to the fullest, John loved polka dancing, playing the accordion, hunting, fishing, playing dominoes, traveling, and visiting with family and friends. John was the type of person who went into a room of strangers and left with a roomful of friends. Topping his list was spending time with his kids and grandkids. John enjoyed 56 years of marriage to Genevieve until she passed away in 2015. John was then fortunate to have as a special companion Betty Joyce Schwartz of Wall.

John was preceded in death by his wife Genevieve, his son Malcolm, his son-in-law T.J. Jones, his parents, his siblings and in-laws Beatrice and Laddie Socha, Walter and Dorothy Schwartz, Joe Schwartz, Victor Matthiesen, Alfred Schwartz, Alfonse and Ruby Schwartz, Betty Hardegree Schwartz, Gloria Schwartz, Alfrieda and Elmer Braden, and Jerline and August Frysak.

He is survived by his partner Betty Joyce Schwartz of Wall, three children and spouses John Schwartz, Jr., and Joan of Wall, Susan Jones of Lubbock, and Curtis Schwartz and Carla of Wall. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, spouses, and five great-grandchildren Cade, Johnna, Corey and Megan (Jace, Dane, and Grant), Kimberlyn, Kye and Savannah (Shay and Callahan), and Trey Schwartz, Kendra and Thomas Hawkins, and Landon Jones. John is also survived by siblings and in-laws Rose Marie Schwartz, Bernice Matthiesen, Ann Schwartz, George and Doris Schwartz, and Erwin Schwartz, Sr., in addition to many special nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

A Rosary will be held on Sunday, November 16, at 5:00 p.m. at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Wall. A celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, November 17, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ambrose, with burial following in St. Ambrose Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, and honorary pallbearers will be his godchildren.

The family requests memorials be made to the Wall Volunteer Fire Department, a local Catholic charity, or a favorite charity.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the Wall Volunteer Fire Department for their loving care Monday, in addition to the many relatives and friends for all the support, prayers, food, and visits after God called John to his eternal home.

Family and friends may share condolences at www.harper-funeralhome.com