Fred K. Schneider

It is with deep sadness and with much love that we mourn the passing of Fred K. Schneider, 74, of Dallas, Texas. He passed away peacefully on May 30, 2026. He was born on June 13, 1951, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Fred D. Schneider and Elaine K. Schneider.

Fred lived a life defined by his kindness, infectious humor, quiet strength, and love for his family. The family moved to Omaha, Nebraska, then to El Paso, Texas, in 1959, where he attended St. Clement’s Episcopal School and Coronado High School. During those years he enjoyed playing golf with his grandfather and skiing in Ruidoso, New Mexico, where he worked on the ski patrol. He was a man of many talents and had a big love of music. He spent time setting up acoustics for local entertainers, including Grand Funk Railroad. After graduating from Coronado High School, he followed his interest in golf and became an assistant pro, under the direction of Don Callahan, at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1969. He then moved back to El Paso joining the family car business and becoming the General Manager of Fred Schneider Cadillac, where he was recognized as being the youngest Cadillac dealer in the country at the time. The business expanded and he moved to Conroe, Texas, and became involved in Lester Goodson Pontiac and was an owner and operator of Spring Branch Honda in Houston, Texas, which was one of the first Honda franchises in the state of Texas. He spent many years living there with his family. He and his family moved to Dallas, Texas, in 2000 where he was an owner of Goodson Acura.

He was a devoted father, a loving husband to his wife, Brenda, and a proud grandfather “Baboo” or “Grandpa Fred”. He loved watching his grandchildren play and making silly faces and sounds with them. He also loved traveling and spent many years making memories singing “Rancho Grande” in Cabo and captaining pontoon sunset cruises in Lake Athens with his family and friends. But more than anything he loved just being with his family, no matter where or when, and he was always present and in the moment with us. Fred leaves behind a beautiful blueprint for a life well-lived: be kind, be strong, persevere, have joy through the struggle, and for heaven’s sake, don’t take things too seriously.

He will be dearly missed and never forgotten by his family. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Schneider, his children Fallon (Todd) Thornal, Fred K. Schneider, Jr., and Karl Schneider, as well as his grandchildren Kruse Thornal, Klare Thornal, Aiden Schneider, and Asher Schneider. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy (Clark) Richardson, and nephews Will (Caroline) Richardson and Ryan (Alisa) Richardson, along with many other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Fred D. Schneider, and his mother, Elaine Kruse Schneider. Special thanks to Mena, Rose, Wubie, Lydia, Amy and Santiago, who cared for him so lovingly and with such dedication these last few years.

We have peace in knowing that Fred was a believer in Jesus Christ, and that He was his Lord and Savior. We know that he is with our Heavenly Father, along with family, friends, and many dogs that have gone before him. We find peace knowing that we will be with him again one day. Until then we will have him in our hearts and take him with us wherever we go.

A celebration of Fred’s life will be held at a location to be determined on July 25, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. All who knew and loved him are welcome to attend. Please check back here for a location update.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in his honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.