Harold E. “Bud” Schmidt

Harold E “Bud” Schmidt of Overland Park, KS, formerly of Raytown, MO, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, November 18, 2016. He was 95 years old. Harold’s wife of more than 60 years, Marjorie Mae McLaughlin Schmidt, preceded him in death.

Harold was a loving father to Randy (Cindy) and Grant (Bonnie), grandfather to Sarah, Jessica, Faith, Megan, and Micah,
and great grandfather to Olivia, Camden, Meredith, Chloe, Hunter, Zoe, Colton, Hannah, Adelaide and Judah.

Harold was a World War II veteran and served in England, Germany, and was in Paris when the troops liberated the city. He had a long career as a scale technician for Fairbanks Morse and eventually retired from the USDA as a research assistant.

Harold had a love of music which he expressed through choir membership, leading congregational music, and performing as a soloist. For years, he enjoyed singing with the Brotherhood Quartet, traveling to area hospitals and nursing homes to minister to the patients. He taught himself to play the piano and at 95 was still pounding out the old hymns he loved so much.

Harold and Marj loved to travel and together visited: Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, and Argentina twice. Camping vacations out west with the boys were some of their treasured memories.

Some people have trouble keeping busy in retirement, but not Harold. Along with a small group of dedicated friends, Harold repaired, rebound, and recovered Bibles for First Baptist Raytown members and for others across the country. This was more than a hobby for Harold. He considered it a ministry and he took it very seriously. What a great time of fellowship these guys had working together and fighting over that last donut on Friday mornings! At this moment, Bibles sit in his workshop – some finished and ready to be picked up – others left for his friends to complete.

Harold was still driving around the city at 95 – something that shocked his attending physician at St. Luke’s South. He would drive down to see his doctor on the Plaza, but most often, his travels took him to the church family he loved so much at First Baptist Raytown. This was his church home for over 60 years. This was where he raised his boys. This was where he sang in the choir and the Christmas pageant. This was where he studied the Bible in Sunday School. And this was where he enjoyed those famous Wednesday night church dinner rolls!!!

Harold and Marj’s entertainment budget was usually spent on the activities of their sons: Boy Scouts, basketball, baseball, Royal Ambassadors, summer camps, music lessons. After Grant and Randy were grown and gone from the home and there were no more concerts to attend or races to be run, they continued to support the ministries of their sons – a pastor/missionary and minister of music.

Harold is gone but will never be forgotten! What joy it brings his family to think of him as he is now, absent from the body and present with the Lord, sitting in the tenor section of that great heavenly choir.