JOHN EDWIN SCHMUCKER

John Edwin Schmucker

John Edwin Schmucker, 73, of 610 Prospect Road, Hurt died Thursday, October 13, 2011 at his home with family around him.

He was born November 6, 1937 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, with a consulate Birth Certificate from South Bend, Indiana, a son of the late Methodist Missionaries Paul H. Schmucker and Rhetta Foote Schmucker. At first the Schmucker's worked in Malaya, but Mr. Schmucker liked to do pioneer work, and since there really wasn't a place to do pioneer work in Malaya, they moved to the Borneo field. Here they were the first missionaries to work among Borneo's former headhunters and started a school. Ejected from Malaya by the Japanese military in 1941 they settled in South Bend, Indiana. Paul H. Schmucker began a teaching career there and The Paul H. Schmucker Middle School was dedicated in his honor. John was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church. He held degrees in electrical and nuclear engineering and over the years worked for Westinghouse and Babcock & Wilcox. He is survived by two sons, Daniel Schmucker of Lynchburg and Keith Dowdy of Strasburg; one daughter, Cynthia Davis of Altavista; three grandchildren, Jesse Kirby, Jennifer Grubb, and Jamie Kirby; five great-grandchildren, Logan, Tyler, Nathan, Kailey, and Hayden; two nephews, David Amrie and Paul Schmucker; one niece, Clair Schmucker; and special friends, Dawn Clark, Jason Grub, and Micheal Dillard.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Kay Davis Schmucker and second wife, Jenifer Lee Creasy Schmucker; one daughter, Grace Ann Sanders; and one brother, James Paul Schmucker. A memorial service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 22, 2011 at New Prospect Baptist Church by the Rev. Brady Willis.

No formal visitation hours are scheduled. The family suggests that those wishing to make memorials consider LYMPHOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, MANTLE CELL RESEARCH INITIATIVE, NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 115 BROADWAY, SUITE 1301, NEW YORK, NY 10006 or New Prospect Baptist Church, P.O. Box 547, Hurt, VA 24563. To send condolences, please visit www.finchandfinchfuneralservice.com.