Dr. Herman Ernest "Ernie" Schmid Jr.

1929 - 2021

Schmid, Jr., Dr. Herman Ernest

May 31, 1929 - March 11, 2021

Dr. Herman Ernest Schmid, Jr. (Ernie), died peacefully on March 11, 2021 at 91 after declining health in the last year. Ernie was born to Herman Schmid, Sr. and Enid Eichhorn Schmid in Chicago, and lived in Winston-Salem, NC since 1960 with his wife, Donna Mae Sannes Schmid, who is currently living at Arbor Acres. He and Donna were inseparable. His life work and passions revolved around his family, friends, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem, his medical practice, his dog, and his yard and garden.

Ernie was a past president and board member of his church, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem, where he was heavily involved. Together Donna and Ernie supported the Fellowship in every way from social events, committee leadership, social justice, and community engagement. Ernie also supported many charities and organizations both locally and afar.

As Dr. Schmid, Ernie was a faculty member and researcher at the Wake Forest School of Medicine in the 60's and then practiced family medicine from 1973 to 2013, first at Pine Ridge Medical Associates and then Senior Care, with Donna, a family nurse practitioner, working side-by-side the whole time. He continued to practice medical care to the age of 88.

Ernie and Donna opened a furniture business selling Danish teak furniture in 1977. He raised a large garden annually and regularly brought produce to his Fellowship and medical practice. Ernie and Donna enjoyed road trips and camper trips to visit friends and relatives and welcomed friends regularly into their home. He wrote a book explaining healthy living called "Your Golden Age, Your Golden Challenge." He loved and cared for his family. He was a man of service and goodwill to all.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Sannes Schmid; step-mother, Akiyo Schmid; son, Herman Schmid III (with spouse Cecile Naylor) and grandchildren, Austin and Eric; son, Loren Schmid (with spouse Karen) and granddaughter, Katrina. He was preceded in death by his son, Karl Schmid (survived by his spouse Deborah) and son Randall and wife Cynthia Hartzog Schmid. Grandchildren from Randall include Erin Law (with husband Phillip and great-grandchildren Avery, Piper, and Mason Law), Randall Schmid, Jr., Kristin Powers (with husband Jonathon). Also preceded in death by brothers Rudy Schmid and wife Barbara and Charles Schmid, wife Dorothy and son Stephen. Nieces/nephews include Sheila and Scott (Rudy), and Linda, Carol and Kenneth (Charles).

The date of a memorial service will be set for later this year when we can all congregate at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem, which has been a source of friends, community and meaning for Ernie and Donna since they joined in 1960. Please direct correspondence to son Herman or other inquiries to heschmid40@gmail.com.