Edward George Schmitt, the only child of Roy and Lurena Schmitt, was born Jan. 5, 1924, in Hamilton, Ohio. Ed passed away Friday, March 3, 2017.
He graduated from Hamilton High School in 1942. Following high school, he attended Purdue University and graduated in 1945 as a distinguished student with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was president of his Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.
Following college graduation in 1945, Ed served in the Army Engineer Corps and was assigned to Oak Ridge, Tenn., to work on the manufacturing of America’s first atomic bomb in World War II.
He was married June 28, 1946, to Sara Steiger Schmitt, a high school sweetheart and fellow graduate of Purdue.
Ed worked for Proctor & Gamble in the Engineering Division his entire career, working in Macon, Ga., and Cincinnati for P&G. Ed and Sara lived in suburban Wyoming, Ohio, from 1960 through 1982. Ed was an avid golfer and won the Wyoming Golf Club Senior Championship three times, and was a member of the board. He maintained an average of a 4 handicap for most of his time playing golf.
Ed and Sara traveled extensively, visiting all of America’s national parks with their sons, most of Europe, Alaska, Bermuda, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, Greece and Turkey.
After 36 years with Proctor & Gamble, Ed retired in 1982. Ed and Sara moved to their new home at 91 Oyster Catcher, Amelia Island Plantation, in 1983 and lived there for 19 years.
Ed was a member of the Amelia Island Community Association, Men’s Golf Association (serving as treasurer). He also served as project manager for the design and construction of the property owners’ clubhouse on the golf course at Amelia Island Plantation.
Ed enjoyed playing golf on most of the great courses in the USA and was able to play the courses of England and Scotland, where the game of golf began.
Ed and Sara moved to Osprey Village in October 2001.
He is survived by son, Doug, and his wife, Laurie (Montana); son, Ken and his wife, Julie; and two grandsons (Minnesota).
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Sara, to whom he was married for more than 65 years.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at the Osprey Villa Dining Room, with the Rev. Ted Schroder officiating. He will be laid to rest in the columbarium at Amelia Island Plantation Chapel.
For those wishing to make a donation in Ed and Sara’s memory, the family asks for support of Community Hospice, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257; or Amelia Island Plantation Chapel, 36 Bowman Road, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors