Frederick William Schmidt Jr.

SCHMIDT Major Frederick William Schmidt Jr., USAF Retired, age 76, beloved husband, father, and Pop-Pop was carried home by the Lord after a short battle with illness on January 22, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida with his immediate family by his side. Fred is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dorothy (Dottie) Marie Schmidt; daughters, Patricia Ann Schmidt, Barbara Ann Schmidt; and son, Frederick William Schmidt III; daughter-in-law, Kathleen Ann Schmidt; and grandchildren, Ashley Ann Thompson, Sarah Marie Emilia Gray, Abrianna Kathleen Schmidt; grandson-in-law, Jordan Thompson; and brother, Tom Schmidt (Carolyn) of Tampa, Florida. He is also survived by his beloved guys, Duma and Buster.

Fred was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and resided in Cherry Hill, New Jersey until moving to Jacksonville, Florida in 1986. Fred was a travel and nature enthusiast, enjoying hiking and exploring most of North America as well as Hawaii and Africa during his lifetime. He had a great love for animals and wildlife. He loved to be part of the great wonders of nature that God created. He served for over 21 years as a Major in the US Air Force, overseeing personnel and logistics for the 111th Combat Support Squadron, Willow Grove NAS. He was deployed to Alabama in 1961 during the Cuban Missile Crises and was honorably discharged in 1980. In his civilian career he worked at Fidelity Bank in Philadelphia for 25 years as Vice President of Pension and Trust before moving with his family in 1986 to Jacksonville Florida. He then headed up Barnett Pension and Trust Retirement Services before retiring from Bank of America in 2005. Helping others gave him so much joy that after retirement he pursued a second career with H&R Block as a Master Tax Advisor. Fred will best be remembered for his dry sense of humor and quick wit. He lived life to its fullest, always having a positive outlook and attempting new things each day. He held family and his faith above all else. He leaves a legacy of smiles, laughs, generosities and memories. He will be missed by every person he s touched in his lifetime.

Visitation will be held at the Oaklawn Chapel of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home located at 4801 San Jose Blvd within the Oaklawn Cemetery from six o'clock pm until eight o'clock pm Wednesday, January 28, 2015. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 29 at ten o'clock a.m. at San Jose Catholic Church on Toledo Road followed by interment at the Oaklawn Cemetery on San Jose Blvd.

Please sign the guestbook at www.hardage-giddensoaklawnchapel.com HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.