THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996 TAG: 9606070410
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 80 lines
Dr. Arthur A. Schmidt, 88, went to be with the Lord the evening of June 1, 1996.
Born in Cleveland in 1908, the son of a German immigrant baker, Dr. Schmidt lived and worked in Cleveland until moving to Chesapeake in 1991 to live with loving friends.
In 1984, Dr. Schmidt retired from his private practice of optometry after 50 consecutive years of service. He was officially commended by the Ohio state governor for distinguished dedication to Ohioians and educational advancement in the field of vision care.
He graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1930, where he joined the Alpha Chapter of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. Due to the Great Depression, no work was available except in the family bakery. In 1932 he utilized the family's small savings to further his education at Ohio State University, College of Applied Optics, in Columbus, Ohio. Immediately upon graduation in 1934, he began to fund the education of his younger brother, who eventually became chief landscape architect for the City of San Francisco, an accomplishment in which Dr. Schmidt took great satisfaction.
In the 1930's, Ohio State was the foremost training facility of optometry with the longest standing continuing program in the nation. In this environment Dr. Schmidt formed lifelong associations and friendships with those leading professionals in this newly advancing field. He participated eagerly as a member in the American Academy of Optometry, The American Optometric Association and on the National and State Registry of Optometry while pursuing continuing professional education for over 60 years.
In 1947, Dr. Schmidt joined with five friends to launch and incorporate a small manufacturing firm of electric supply cords, Electric Cord Sets, Inc., of Westlake, Ohio. With small investment capital but much determination, these six founders and their wives worked five nights each week for the first two years of incorporation in Dr. Schmidt's basement. Assembling, wiring and constructing electric cords, they began to fill small production orders. Today, the expanded company flourishes with corporate offices in Cleveland and production plants in three states. Dr. Schmidt served as president of ECS, Inc., from its inception in 1947 through 1969, and also on the Board of Directors through 1990. He is the last remaining of the original founders. In business, as in his personal life, he was known to always ask one question; ``Will this decision harm anyone?''
``Doc,'' as he was known by his friends, was an active member of the North Olmsted Kiwanis in Ohio for 44 years. He believed in community benevolence and academic scholarships for local students. For several years in the late 80's he was a member of John Knox Presbyterian Church of North Olmsted, Ohio. Fly-fishing with his own created flys was his favorite pastime at the Rockwell Springs Trout Club near Sandusky, Ohio. Throughout his life he volunteered monthly at the Lutheran Home for the Elderly in Westlake, Ohio, adjusting glasses.
Though he and his wife, Evelyn, had no children of their own, they were intricately involved in loving and caring for numerous children. In 1988, when Dr. Schmidt was parted from his wife of 54 years by her death, Carol Guess, one of these ``unofficial adopted children'' and her husband, Hunter, began to care for him until his passing. In 1991, he moved to Chesapeake to their home to the joy of new Virginian friends and another young generation of children who loved him as ``Uncle Art.''
On September 11, 1992, Arthur Schmidt made the most critical decision of a man's life. At age 84, this shy man enthusiastically walked forward with cane in hand in the ballroom of Norfolk's Omni Hotel, before a crowd of 1,000, to receive Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord, in whose presence he now lives.
In these recent years he had fished the Chesapeake Bay and had been a regular participant in joyful daily activities provided at the M.E. Cox Center for Senior Adults in Virginia Beach. Just one month ago, he took first place in the Virginia Beach City Wide Senior Olympics in the horseshoe event.
He is survived by his brother Hue Schmidt of Mill Valley, Calif.; and many beloved cousins in Ohio. He leaves the legacy of a good name, noble memories and many dear friends who shall truly miss him.
A homegoing celebration will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, June 10, 1996, at New Life Christian Fellowship at Greenbrier, 1111 Volvo Parkway, Chesapeake, Va. 547-7777. Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Indian River Chapel, is handling arrangements. All his Virginia friends are welcome. A reception will follow services. Ohio services and interment will be handled by Kacirek Funeral Home in North Olmsted, Ohio, 216-777-5522. The family requests contributions be made to the nonprofit M.E. Cox Center for Elder Day Care, 644 North Lynnhaven Road, Virginia Beach, Va. 23452, 340-4388. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB