Edna Ruth Schmidt

Edna Ruth Schmidt

Our wonderful Mother and Grandmother Edna R. Schmidt passed away peacefully on June 4, 2014, surrounded by the love of her family.

Edna was born on June 27, 1923 in East McKeesport, PA and was the daughter of George and Edna Mae Geiger. She and her two brothers, Glenn and Earl, were raised by their grandmother Bessie Milburn. She graduated from Akron South High School in 1941 and then worked for The B.F. Goodrich Company until 1953. She met her future husband, Robert Schmidt, at a church social in 1947 and they were married in Akron in June, 1949. Mom then devoted her time to raising her four children in Bath, Ohio.

Edna and Bob with their kids spent many years boating on Lake Erie, Georgian Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway System. She volunteered at Akron City Hospital and was a life member of The Women's Board of Summa Health System. In later years, Edna traveled with Bob around the world and especially enjoyed traveling by train whenever she could. She also loved spending time with her four grandchildren and attended as many baseball games, recitals, school plays and concerts as she could. She enjoyed numerous family vacations to Cape Hatteras, baking (especially her cinnamon rolls) and watching her beloved Cleveland Indians baseball games. Edna played the piano beautifully throughout her life and was a wonderful seamstress, knitter and stamp collector. Mom most loved spending time with her kids, either with a cup of coffee or glass of wine in her hand. She enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren achieve their goals and was very supportive in all their endeavors.

Mom always had a gleam in her eye and a smile on her face; she had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to kid those around her. Even as her health declined, she maintained her positive attitude and infectious humor. Her family will spend the rest of their lives recalling her one-liners and funny little antics.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband Robert, parents and brothers. She is survived by daughter, Carol (Dave Pulk) of Williamsburg, VA; son, Ken of Pleasanton, CA; daughter, Barb (Kevin Martin) of Stow; and daughter Martha (Steve Kovach) of Wooster. She also leaves behind four grandchildren, Joshua Martin (Jenn McManus) of Brooklyn, NY; Kyle Martin of Astoria, NY; Halle Martin of Stow (Mom's special caregiver); and Lukas Martin of Nashville, TN. She is also survived by sister-in-law and brother-in-law Mildred and Jim Miles of Tallmadge and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private celebration of Edna's life will be held at a later date.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff at Heritage of Hudson Skilled Nursing Center for the exceptional care and love Mom received during this past year. We are especially grateful to the Crossroads Hospice staff and the Heritage staff for their compassionate care of Mom and her family during her final days.

Donations in Edna's memory can be made to The Women's Board of Summa Health System Memorial Research Fund, PO Box 2090, Akron, OH 44309. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)