Mary Jane Schmitt (94) passed away on October 28th, 2019 at the Holiday Retirement Village. She was the daughter of Walter Phillip and Ethelyn "Peg" (Casey) Schmitt and was born on April 9th, 1925 in Evansville Indiana.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Irene Elizabeth and Pearl Louise, her brother Walter Anton Schmitt and several aunts and uncles. She is survived by her sister-in-law Genevieve Schmitt of Dayton, Ohio, her niece, Dr. Carol Sue Schmitt of La Mesa, California, her nephew, Walter Casey Schmitt (Karen) of Bellbrook, Ohio, three great nephews, Derek Matthew Schmitt (Amanda) of Cincinnati Ohio, Jacob Preston Schmitt (Hali) of Columbus Ohio and Aaron Walter Schmitt of Bellbrook, Ohio.
She attended Emma Roach (now Cedar Hall) Grade School and graduated from Central High School in 1943. She graduated from Evansville College (now UE) in 1946, majoring in Chemistry and Math and minoring in English.
She began working at Igleheart Brothers (General Foods) in 1946 in the Quality Control Lab. In 1956 she became employed at Mead Johnson Co. (Later.Bristol-Myers Squibb) as an Information Scientist where she supervised the Technical Records Office. Her professional memberships included American Chemical Society, American Association of Cereal Chemists and Research Society of America.
She retired in 1987 at the age of 62 and she was then free to pursue in earnest the passion of her life - travel! She visited all 50 states and all 7 continents - some multiple times. In 23 lengthy trips, she crossed the Atlantic, the Pacific or the perimeter of South America. She began her foreign travel in 1956 (before retirement).since she was getting 5 weeks vacation. Her first trip was to the Holy Land.
She was always interested in sports, participating in bowling and golf leagues for over 50 years. She was also a season ticket holder to UE basketball games for about 50 years (during their "glory years"). For many years she subscribed to, or was a member of, The Musicians Club of Evansville, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra concerts, Broadway Theatre League, Evansville Civic Theatre, the Current History Club, the Kennel Club and the YWCA Board of Directors.
She was a member of Central United Methodist Church and served on many committees in both Church and Sunday School.
Visitation at Alexander Funeral Home on Friday, November 8, 2019 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. and there will also be visitation at Central United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. until service time at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Park Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Central United Methodist Endowment Fund, 300 Mary Street, Evansville, Indiana, 47710 or to your favorite charity
