Dorothy "Dottie" Leila Deane Schmidt

Dorothy Leila Deane Schmidt, 87, returned home to her Lord and Savior on July 28, 2014. Dottie was a retired music educator with the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Highland County School System (Sparta, Ohio), Jonathan Alder School System (Plain City, Ohio) and Otterbein College (Westerville, Ohio). Dottie was a graduate of Otterbein College and Georgia Southern University and Completed Extensive graduate studies at the Ohio State University and at Capital University. She was a member of the American Organ Guild (Savannah Chapter), and served as Choir Director and Organist for Redeemer Lutheran Church and St. Luke's Lutheran Church (Savannah), Grace Lutheran Church and St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Westerville, Ohio) and the Lord of Life Lutheran Church (Dublin, Ohio). She also taught private piano lessons for many years. In her retirement she directed the Senior Belles and Beaus show choir and was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Savannah. She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 50 years, John R. Schmidt, Sr., an infant son, Donald D. Schmidt, and grand-daughter, Allison M. Disher. Survivors are her children: Frances Schmidt Rife of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, John R. Schmidt, II (Shawnda) of Johnstown, Ohio, Lawrence D. Schmidt (Sharon) of Savannah, GA, and Margaret E. Disher (Michael) of Guyton, GA, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Fairhaven Funeral Home, Hubert C. Baker Chapel, located at 7415 Hodgson Memorial Dr., of Sunday August 3rd, 2014 between the hours of 5:00p.m.and 7:00p.m. Funeral Service will be conducted at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 10 W. 31st St at 11:00a.m. Monday August 4th 2014, with pre-service music to begin at 10:45a.m. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Memory Garden immediately following the service In Lieu of flowers, a memorial in Dottie's name may be made to the Sol C. Johnson High School Choral Program, 3012 Sunset Blvd., Savannah, Ga. 31404. Your donations will help provide an opportunity for the choir to perform at Carnegie Hall. This is a program that was very dear to Dottie's heart.