Welcome to the memorial page for
Gerald Lamar Schmidt
April 7, 1940 ~ April 7, 2017 (age 77) 77 Years OldShare Tribute:
Gerald "Jerry" Lamar Schmidt was born in Oklahoma City, OK on 7 Apr 1940 and died in Alexandria, VA on 7 Apr 2017. Jerry graduated from Bristow High School in Bristow, OK on 23 May 1958 where he was in the National Honor Society, Student Council, Debate Team, yearbook staff, chorus and played on the golf and basketball teams.
Jerry received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Letters at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK on 27 May 1962 and completed his Master of Arts degree in English at Ohio State University, Columbus, OH on 16 Mar 1967. After teaching English at Wichita State University, Wichita, KS from Sep 1967 to May 1971, he returned to the University of Oklahoma, where he completed all course work for his doctorate in American Literature in 1977, but he elected to change career fields and join the Department of Defense and thus did not complete his dissertation.
Jerry served as an active duty officer in the United States Army beginning 7 Jul 1962 as a 2nd lieutenant, was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 5 May 1964, achieved a sharp shooter weapons qualification badge, and retired as a 1st lieutenant on 15 Dec 1964. He then joined the Army Reserves on 16 Dec 1964 as a 1st lieutenant. In 1976 Jerry completed the US Army Command and General Staff College, a graduate school at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Specializing in Military Intelligence as a Russian expert, Jerry rose to the rank of Colonel on 15 Nov 1982 and commanded the army's intelligence research unit, the 439th Military Intelligence Detachment, US Army Reserves at Fort George Meade in MD. He received the National Defense Service Medal.
Simultaneously with his military reserve career, Jerry worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency in the Pentagon, Washington DC where he was on the research publication staff before moving to the chief financial office staff from where he retired in 2003.
Jerry will be remembered by many for different reasons. At the University of Oklahoma his friends noted Jerry's droll, laconic attitude toward almost everything and his quirky cynicism, and wit. His colleagues said Jerry seemed a man of few words, but his dry sense of humor made people laugh. Jerry was a role model for some, an example of excellence for others and a mentor to friends. He was a scholar and instructive to young students in the family. Jerry did not believe criticism was the best way to teach. He was loved and admired by his step children Carrie Suzanne Simmons and Scott Franklin Simmons. Jerry was highly devoted to his son Daniel and connected in the last year of his life with a grand baby, showing the greatest devotion and love. The joy Jerry experienced was beautiful, enriching him and the baby beyond words. An avid golf player, Jerry played from his early years in middle school through his 70s.
Jerry was married to Shirley Anna Hilty, Leanne Dagget Murray, Virginia Custis Winslett and Robyn Adair Warren Simmons. He is survived by his son Daniel Lamar Winslett Schmidt whom he loved with all his heart. Jerry died from congestive heart failure at home with his wife Robyn and surrounded by family. He is survived by his sister-in-law Pamela Ann Griffin Schmidt and was proceeded in death last year by his brother Lowell Bruce Schmidt and by his parents Frederick Lamar Schmidt in 1967 and Juanita Bessie Counts in 2000.
Colonel Schmidt will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia in a grave side service on 6 Oct 2017 at 11 am.
Jerry received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Letters at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK on 27 May 1962 and completed his Master of Arts degree in English at Ohio State University, Columbus, OH on 16 Mar 1967. After teaching English at Wichita State University, Wichita, KS from Sep 1967 to May 1971, he returned to the University of Oklahoma, where he completed all course work for his doctorate in American Literature in 1977, but he elected to change career fields and join the Department of Defense and thus did not complete his dissertation.
Jerry served as an active duty officer in the United States Army beginning 7 Jul 1962 as a 2nd lieutenant, was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 5 May 1964, achieved a sharp shooter weapons qualification badge, and retired as a 1st lieutenant on 15 Dec 1964. He then joined the Army Reserves on 16 Dec 1964 as a 1st lieutenant. In 1976 Jerry completed the US Army Command and General Staff College, a graduate school at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Specializing in Military Intelligence as a Russian expert, Jerry rose to the rank of Colonel on 15 Nov 1982 and commanded the army's intelligence research unit, the 439th Military Intelligence Detachment, US Army Reserves at Fort George Meade in MD. He received the National Defense Service Medal.
Simultaneously with his military reserve career, Jerry worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency in the Pentagon, Washington DC where he was on the research publication staff before moving to the chief financial office staff from where he retired in 2003.
Jerry will be remembered by many for different reasons. At the University of Oklahoma his friends noted Jerry's droll, laconic attitude toward almost everything and his quirky cynicism, and wit. His colleagues said Jerry seemed a man of few words, but his dry sense of humor made people laugh. Jerry was a role model for some, an example of excellence for others and a mentor to friends. He was a scholar and instructive to young students in the family. Jerry did not believe criticism was the best way to teach. He was loved and admired by his step children Carrie Suzanne Simmons and Scott Franklin Simmons. Jerry was highly devoted to his son Daniel and connected in the last year of his life with a grand baby, showing the greatest devotion and love. The joy Jerry experienced was beautiful, enriching him and the baby beyond words. An avid golf player, Jerry played from his early years in middle school through his 70s.
Jerry was married to Shirley Anna Hilty, Leanne Dagget Murray, Virginia Custis Winslett and Robyn Adair Warren Simmons. He is survived by his son Daniel Lamar Winslett Schmidt whom he loved with all his heart. Jerry died from congestive heart failure at home with his wife Robyn and surrounded by family. He is survived by his sister-in-law Pamela Ann Griffin Schmidt and was proceeded in death last year by his brother Lowell Bruce Schmidt and by his parents Frederick Lamar Schmidt in 1967 and Juanita Bessie Counts in 2000.
Colonel Schmidt will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia in a grave side service on 6 Oct 2017 at 11 am.
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