George J. Schneider, Sr.

George J. Schneider, Sr., age 89, peacefully passed away July 9, 2020 in his home in Ruston, LA, after a courageous fight with cancer. He was visited by all of his children prior to his death.

Born December 27, 1930, in Kansas City, Kansas, George grew up there and was raised primarily by his Grandmother, Eva Schneider. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Barbara, this April.

He is survived by his five children: George (Kay), Houston, TX, Bill (Kathy) Dallas, TX, Tom (Lori) Maumelle, AR, Levi (Debbie) Pottsboro, TX and Laura Schneider, Ruston, LA. He was known as Grandy to his seven granddaughters Katherine Anderson, Rebecca Girbach, Lauren Schneider; Courtney Schneider, Ashley Schmitt; Sara Glazer, and Allison Schneider. He will also be remembered by seven great grandchildren: Joshua and John Anderson; Sarah, Charlotte and Emily Girbach; and Dietrich and Wyatt Schmitt.

George attended school in Kansas City and graduated from Wyandotte High School. It was where he fell in love with all thing’s aviation while a member of the Jr. ROTC Program. He attended Kansas City Community College and met his wife Barbara. He joined the Air Force at Ellington Field in Houston, TX where he began his Air Force aviation career as a flight navigator in an Air Refueling Squadron.

He and Barbara married in 1952 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas. From that point, they embraced the military life while starting their family. George was stationed stateside in Bossier City, LA, Montgomery, AL, Oscoda, MI, back to Kansas City to be near family while George was on a lengthy overseas assignment in Southeast Asia, and lastly, Ruston while assigned to the LA Tech ROTC program. There were many other shorter deployments where George was serving our country while away from his home and family.

After George’s military retirement as an Air Force Major in 1973, he transitioned to civilian life in Ruston. However, he was not finished with his career in aviation. He joined the professional aviation department at Louisiana Tech University and taught aviation until his retirement from Louisiana Tech in 1998. In addition, he was a Certified Flight Instructor and a Federal Aviation Administration flight examiner. During his military career he also attended college and earned degrees from George Washington University, Oklahoma State University and Louisiana Tech University.

In Ruston George and Barbara had many friends and formed relationships that were still going strong when he passed away. Many of his closest friends were at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and other husbands and wives who were in the service sorority Beta Sigma Phi with Barbara.

He enjoyed numerous activities over the years in addition to his love of flying. RV traveling, boating, RV trips with his sons to aviation airshows in Oshkosh, WI, and Lakeland, FL, fishing trips to the gulf coast with friends, trips to Europe with close friends on military standby flights, Ruston High School and Louisiana Tech sporting events. He also loved dogs, especially Schnauzers. He had several over the years and named them all “Snickers.”

George will be greatly missed by his family, friends, neighbors and caregivers. But we are all equipped to carry on and serve because of George’s training, teaching, advice and examples he provided to us over the years. Forever we will cherish the memory of his service to his God, his Country, his Family and his Community.

A special thanks to all his caregivers for their love and support of both George and Barbara.

Due to the public safeguards pertaining to the current pandemic, family will attend a private Funeral Rite of Committal at Owens Cemetery. The family will hold a public Mass of Remembrance at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church at a later date.

Please join us in prayer from your homes on Wednesday, July 15. Please continue praying for those that are ill in our country and community. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the sitters, nurses and therapists that spent time with George in the past weeks.

Memorials may be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 810 Carey Avenue, Ruston, LA 71270; 4 Paws Rescue, Inc., 290 Rodeo Rd., Ruston, LA, 71270 or Louisiana Tech University, Dept. of Professional Aviation, P.O. Box 3181, Ruston, LA, 71270.