Irvin Schmidt

Memorial Services for Irvin Schmidt of Arapaho, Oklahoma, will be held 10:00 A.M. Friday, August 16 ,2019 at The First Mennonite Church, Clinton, Oklahoma. Irvin passed from this life, August 9, 2019, in Grace Living Center, Clinton, Oklahoma, surrounded by his loving family. Irvin was born September 11, 1933. He was 85 years old. Irvin proudly served in the United States Air Force. During four years serving in the Air Force R.O.T.C program at Oklahoma State University, he was commissioned and served as a navigator and instructor on the C-124 aircraft. When the mission was changed to fighter aircraft, the reserve navigators at Tinker Air Force Base were not needed and he resigned the commission to serve. A total of over 40 good years through the Korean and Vietnam conflicts was accumulated before retirement. His first job after active Air Force at various bases in Texas, was as a vocational agriculture teacher at Dale, Oklahoma, along with being a volunteer fireman. He stayed for 13 years and then came home to the family farm west of Clinton after his father passed away. He worked as a Custer County extension agent assistant and also disaster preparedness volunteer for Clinton. After the farm sale to settle his father's estate, they moved into Clinton. He taught and served as principal at Corn Bible Academy. He then worked at Weatherford and Clinton High Schools where he retired from the public-school system. He has been retired for 20 years. To keep busy, he used his time with First Mennonite Church, lifetime member of American Legion Post #41, Clinton Gideon Camp, Triad, Clinton AARP Chapter, Oklahoma Farmers Union, and Retired Educators Association. He was awarded 2010 Clinton Citizen of the Year and the 2016 Epsilon Sigma Alpha Distinguished Achievement award for Oklahoma. Irvin was a family man. He welcomed any chance to spend time with all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Their presence and development were among his most treasured moments. He enjoyed sports, especially if they were participating. He leaves behind to cherish his memory, three daughters, Melody Johnson and husband Ray of Mustang, Oklahoma, Katherine Ford and husband Kirk of Arapaho, Oklahoma, and Holly Stratton and husband Brett of Clinton, Oklahoma. Along with two sons, Irving Schmidt and wife Angie of Weatherford, Oklahoma and Leslie Schmidt and wife DaLene of Dill City, Oklahoma. Irvin, or as some would call him "smiley" will forever be missed by his grandchildren, Hilda Alexander and husband Aron, Josephine Schenewolf and husband Gary, Nicholas Kliewer and wife Ashley, Dacia Belter and husband Cory, Amy Thornburg and husband Sean, Weston Schmidt and wife Sara, DaLey McGuire and husband Quinton, Linley Byrd and fiance` Brian Sapp, Kinley Ford and Lanie Stratton. Along with 24 great grandchildren, Atticus and Aster Alexander; Justin and Irwin Schenewolf; Kennedy, Jillian and Lawson Kliewer; Diem, Dace and Daisy Belter; Jude and Levon Thornburg; Sammy, Gabe, Wyatt and Benjamin Schmidt; Levi, Titus and Rowan McGuire; Colt Byrd, Rilynn, Braxton, Bryson and Kinzlee Sapp. Irvin is also survived by two sisters, Betty Jo Hill and Joyce Manning. Irvin will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives were impacted by him including a host of cousins, friends and loved ones who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Pauline (Muno) Schmidt, his parents, AP and Hilda Schmidt, a daughter Paula Hayen, sisters Mary Bell Thomas and LaVeta Rodgers, along with three grandsons, Justin and Michael Schmidt and Samuel Schenewolf. Memorials may be made in Irvin's honor to the Gideon memorial Bibles, Corn Bible Academy or Western Oklahoma Christian School.