Robert “Bob” Aloysius Schmitz, 87, of Henrico North Carolina, passed away on 27 December 2023.
He was born on 16 September 1936 in Oshkosh Wisconsin, the son of William Matthew and Elizabeth “Betty” Kinderman Schmitz.
Bob married Janet Helen Macht at Saint Leo’s Catholic Church on 6 August 1960 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Bob served in the U.S. Naval Reserve Surface Division.
He had an accomplished 32 year public service career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Career highlights include working on the Viking Project (Mission to Mars - Viking 1 Orbiter & Lander) and as Acting Director & Deputy Director of the Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications Division with research projects deployed on Space Shuttle missions.
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Bob traveled the world for both work and pleasure with his beloved wives. He cherished time with family and friends the most.
Bob was an avid Green Bay Packers fan. He enjoyed the life he built at Lake Gaston including swimming, boating, golfing, playing cribbage and other games. He was an avid reader of books and cherished watching birds and other wildlife at the lake.
He was preceded in death by his wife Janet Helen Macht Schmitz, son Robert Anthony Schmitz, second wife Becky Metzer Schmitz, sister Elizabeth “Betty Ann” and husband Harland H. Sonnenberg, sister Germaine Rose and husband Joseph Kaiser, sister Marie Ann and husband Donald O. Voss, brother-in-law Thomas “Tom” W. Schumacher, and sister Jean Elizabeth Schmitz.
Bob is survived by his loving family including brother William John Schmitz, sister Carolyn Rose Schumacher, daughter Catherine Ann and husband William Hoke "Tripp" Ritchie III, daughter-in-law Amy Katharine McCoig Schmitz, daughter Debra Marie Schmitz, and daughter Stephanie Lynn and husband Patrick Walter McGovern.
Bob was blessed with grandchildren Christina Katharine Schmitz, Jennifer Lauren Schmitz and husband Brian Andrew Clay, Robert Austin Schmitz, Jackilynn Ritchie and husband Matthew Swartz, Kyle William Ritchie, Robert David Ritchie and wife Jennifer Lindsey; and great grandchildren Ethan Robert Szewczyk, Henry Cullen Hayslip, Katharine Francis Clay, James Robert Clay, Oliver Michael Clay, Rafa William Ritchie, Gabrielle Alena Ritchie, Charles Landon Ritchie, Bianca Daphne Ritchie and Gracelynn Ritchie. Bob is also survived by many nieces and nephews for whom he had great love and affection.
Friends are welcome to join in the celebration of Bob’s life on Saturday 6 January 2024 at Lakeside Lutheran Church, 2427 Eatons Ferry Road, Littleton, NC 27850. Memorial Services begin at 1400 followed by a reception with the family. Memorial donations may be made in Bob’s honor to non-profit organizations W.C. "Billy" Jones Memorial Library (Littleton NC Library) and Helpful Hands and Hearts, Inc.
Online condolences can be made at www.wrennfhm.com