Mildred Elizabeth (Voll) Schmidt

Mildred Elizabeth (Voll) Schmidt passed away May 17, 2010 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born April 3, 1921, at the Louisville home of her parents, Fred and Emma Voll. She wed Jacob J. Schmidt III on February 14, 1942, and they were married for 68 years, until his death last month. Mrs. Schmidt raised three children, Sherri, Jay and Dee. She served as a PTA officer and room mother for her children at Rockford Lane Elementary School. During fire prevention week, she would bring her husband’s firefighting equipment to class, which delighted the students. After her children were grown, she returned to work as a teacher’s aide at both Rockford Lane and Crums Lane Elementary Schools, retiring in 1983 after 13 years. For 46 years, Mrs. Schmidt taught Sunday school at St Stephen United Church of Christ, sharing her love of Bible stories with generations of children. She was active in the women’s guild and served on various church committees. She was always ready to help a friend or neighbor in need, and would frequently volunteer to cook, clean, or babysit when someone was ill. Mrs. Schmidt loved writing songs, poems, and plays for her church and the elementary school. She won awards for her writing: her original lyrics for classic hymns were a favorite at the church’s stewardship contests. In another writing contest, she won a 25-foot cabin cruiser, which spurred a lifelong love of boating and waterskiing. Mrs. Schmidt is predeceased by her husband, Jacob Schmidt; sister Shirley A. Eldridge; and brothers Fred Voll, Jr., Raymond Voll, and Alvin Voll. She is survived by her children Sherri Dutschke (Kenny), Jay Schmidt (Betty) of Montgomery, TX, and Diane “Dee” Walters of Apple Valley, CA. She has four granddaughters, Jerri Mortenson (Curt) of Woodlands, TX; Suzanne Gray (Ero) of New York City; Christine Fundell (Dustin) of Apple Valley, CA; and Ashley Hall; as well as six great-grandchildren: Tyler, Elizabeth and Joshua Mortenson and Kaitlin, Dylan and Lilyan Fundell. She is also survived by her brothers Eugene Voll; Clifford Voll of Palos Park, IL; Donald Voll of Burnsville, MN; and Jerry Voll of Inverell NSW, Australia. Visitation will be Wednesday from 3 to 9 p.m. at Owen Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Hwy. The funeral service will be Thursday, 11:00 am at St. Stephen United Church of Christ, 1875 Farnsley Rd, with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. The family expresses thanks to Hosparus of Louisville and to Rev. Jim Harper. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Stephen United Church of Christ, 1875 Farnsley Road, Louisville, KY 40216 or Hosparus of Louisville, P.O. Box 35425, Louisville, KY 40232-9892 Online condolences can be made at www.owenfuneralhome.com.