SCHNEIDER, Gordon Henry

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, Arizona Tuesday, January 14, 2014 Gordon Henry Schneider, 92, passed away at his home in Clarkdale, Arizona on January 1, 2014 after a yearlong illness. He was born in Midland County, MI on November 4, 1921 on his family's farm and was the fifth and last surviving child of Bishop Henry Schneider and May Rose Schneider. He attended Messiah Academy in Grantham, Pennsylvania where he met his future wife, Pauline Emma Rife. They were married in her parents' home in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in a ceremony officiated by Bishop Schneider on March 28, 1940. He attended radio school in Indiana, setting the stage for a career as a self-taught computer systems analyst before such a profession was even recognized. Over the years he was employed by diverse corporations including The Martin Company, General Electric Company, Trans World Airways, Siemens Corporation, Kinney Shoes and several major regional banks. Because of his skills in radio, Gordon served as a merchant seaman in WWII, seeing combat in areas around the world. A man of renaissance proportions, he wrote, sang, directed choirs and painted. He was also a man of deep religious devotion and served as a deacon in virtually every church of which he was a member. An avid aviation enthusiast, he held ratings in sea and land airplanes including instructor ratings in both types. He was a Mission Pilot for the Civil Air Patrol upon retiring to Cottonwood, Arizona, flying search and rescue missions. Greatly beloved by those who knew him, he was highly respected for his knowledge and skill in many areas including music, mechanics, electronics, aviation and computer systems, as well as his extraordinary common sense wisdom. His unfulfilled dream to be a teacher could said to have been achieved through his counsel on many topics to his children, grandchildren, friends and co-workers and anyone else who drew upon him for advice or assistance. Throughout his life he boated, water skied, drove tractors and horses, rode motorcycles, flew land and sea planes, took up soaring at age 80 and amazingly mastered snow skiing at the age of 72, in two days on the slopes of Heavenly Valley Ski Resort in Nevada. Gordon is already profoundly missed by family, friends and acquaintances. Were he with us today, he would surely say, "I'd rather be flying." He is survived by his wife Pauline, 91, son Gene and his wife Heather, son Gerry, daughter Sue, as well as four grandchildren and eight grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on January 25, at Clarkdale Baptist Church in Clarkdale, Arizona. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of gifts and flowers, the family requests donations to Messiah College Heritage Fund, One College Ave, Suite 3013, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. Information provided by survivors.