Joseph "Joe" F. Schmid, Jr.

Joseph (Joe) Frederick Schmid, Jr., age 85, of Sewickley Hills passed away peacefully on October 18th, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Born July 29th, 1939, in Pittsburgh, PA, Joe grew up as the eldest of nine children of his parents, Joseph and Esther (Edmundson) Schmid, in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood.

Following his graduation from Central Catholic High School, Joe worked as a salesman for White Linen Company. He later served in the 502nd Transportation Company of the United States Army in Fort Meade, Maryland. After his honorable discharge, Joe spent the remainder of his career as a truck driver for Preston Trucking Company, the last 10 of which he was a Business Agent for Teamsters Local 249. Joe was a dedicated and hard worker and received several awards, such as the Million Mile Driving Award (that’s 40x around the Earth, as he would say!). He was very proud to be recognized for his safe driving record during his career.

Aside from his professional career, Joe’s true passion in life was his family. He loved spending time with his large family, playing cards and telling stories about growing up in Bloomfield at family Sunday dinners. He enjoyed playing horseshoes, cornhole, and especially loved fishing at the Schmid Camp on the Connoquenessing Creek.  He was also an avid woodworker, spending his free time making beautiful benches and bluebird houses in his workshop at home. He found great joy and peace in mowing the grass on his John Deere until the very end.

Joe is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Vivian (Kaplack) Schmid, and his two daughters Leslie (Ronald) Ashburn, and Lynn (Timothy) Spontak. He was the most adoring and loving Pappy to his granddaughters, Elena and Hannah Ashburn, who were the light of his life.

He is also survived by his siblings William (Lorraine) Schmid, Margaret (Robert) Donahue, Marilyn (George Martzo) Schmid, John Schmid, Robert (Georgia) Schmid, David (Elaine) Schmid, and Daniel (Amy) Schmid, along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Donatelli, and his granddaughter, Julia Ann Ashburn.

Friends will be received at the R.D. Copeland Funeral Home, Irvine Chapel, 702 Beaver Street, Sewickley, on Tuesday October 22nd from 2 – 7 PM. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 9:45 am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Church, Glenfield at 10:30am. Burial to follow at St. James Cemetery, Sewickley with military honors.  

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