Schmidt, Herman Paul (1903-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Aug 8 p. 8

Birth date: 1903 Dec 11

text of obituary:

HERMAN PAUL SCHMIDT

Herman Paul Schmidt, son of John W. and Mary Pankratz Schmidt, was born near Cordell, Okla. on Dec. 11, 1903. He passed away July 8, 1957, at Pittsburg Community Hospital in Pittsburg, Calif. 19 hours after suffering an intra-cranial hemorrhage. He attained the age of 53 years, seven months and 27 days.

Memorial services were held in the MacFarlane-Bryant Funeral Chapel in Concord, Calif. on July 10. Rev. C. J. Morgan, pastor of the Community Congregational Church of Port Chicago, and the Rev. A. L. Liffin, pastor of the Central Christian Church of Portland, Ore., a brother-in-law of the deceased, conducted the service. Interment was made in "The Garden of the Lord's Prayer" in Memory Gardens near Concord.

He received his elementary schooling at Flynn School near Cordell and then attended Meno Bible Academy in Meno, Okla.

On June 11, 1929, he was united in marriage with Adele Ruth Lichti by Rev. J. m. Suderman in North Newton, Kan.

In late 1932 the family moved to Port Chicago, Calif. where their two children, Shirley Ann, Mrs. Donald E. McKinnon of Concord, and Laurence of the home were born. He became an employee of the Shell Chemical Corporation in 1933 and remained in their employ until his death.

He was baptized upon confession of his faith in the Sichar Mennonite Church near Cordell on Aug.31, 1919, and later transferred his membership to the Community Congregational Church in Port Chicago. There he served the church at various times as treasurer, trustee and deacon.

Since 1938 he had suffered many illnesses and several major surgeries, but always made remarkable recoveries and bore his illnesses cheerfully. His last illness was short and merciful although unexpected as he had seemingly recovered from a hospitalization early in May for thrombophlemitis and had returned to work.

He leaves to mourn his early passing his wife, son, daughter, and son-in-law, two grandchildren, David and Donna McKinnon; his mother, Mrs. Mary Schmidt of Reedley, Calif.; four brothers, Adolph of Clinton, Okla., John of Redondo Beach, Ted of Reedley and Otto of Fresno, Calif.