Billie Marie Schmidt

Billie Marie (Wigley) Schmidt, age 88, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2020, in Houston, Texas. Billie was born in Wichita Falls, TX, on October 27, 1931 to Bill and Bess Wigley. She graduated as Salutatorian from Pasadena High School in 1948 at the age of 16. Billie furthered her education at Southwest Business University and then began her career at Shell Oil Company. After working at Shell for a few years, Billie married her first husband and began working for the Air Force. She lived in several different locations during this period including England, which she especially enjoyed. During this time Billie also became a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served as Mother Advisor for the Schertz Assembly #280, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls.

In 1961, Billie joined NASA in Houston, TX (prior to the construction of the Johnson Space Center). Billie was determined to be part of the team to put the first man on the moon and was very proud to work at NASA. Her 20+ year career spanned both the Mercury and Apollo programs, including support to the Apollo 13 Review Board. She was well respected by her co-workers and eventually rose to the position of Executive Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Director at NASA Johnson Space Center. While at NASA, she met her second husband and the love of her life John (Jack) J. Schmidt. Upon her marriage to Jack on April 16, 1969, she became the instant mother of three children. Billie had excellent grammar skills and shared them freely whenever there was a term paper or book report that needed to be reviewed. In retirement, Jack and Billie enjoyed spending time at their lake house and caring for her mother Bess. Billie was very attentive to all of her mother’s needs and was a wonderful caregiver. Billie enjoyed working with her church, learning to paint with oils, singing, and reading. She loved to garden and grow flowers in her yard and loved her pets. After the passing of her husband, Jack, and mother, Billie moved to Buckner Parkway Place in Houston, TX, where she made many new friends. Billie was very proud to be featured in the 2014 Buckner Annual Report in an article titled “Moonstruck” which featured her career at NASA.

Billie was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Billie’s deep faith in Christ was exemplified in the words she lived by: “I am here by God’s appointment, in God’s keeping, under His instruction for His time.” She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.

Billie is preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband John (Jack) J. Schmidt, her son John A. Schmidt and his partner Sandra Ashworth.

She is survived by her daughters and their families, Janet Svoboda and her husband James, Gretchen Netzband and her husband Michael. Also remaining to grieve are her grandchildren, Kristen Svoboda Sledge (Jonathan), Matthew Svoboda, Jacob Netzband (Megan), Jessica Netzband Lammlein (Jack) and Heidi Schmidt Cress; and great grandchildren Parker, Henry, Claire, Owen Stevie, Bryce, and Cassey.

She is also survived by her sister, Gayla Roberts and husband Mike, her niece Melissa Roberts Howard, husband Ron, their children Nathan and Allison, and her nephew Michael Roberts Jr, wife Toni, and their children Faith, Matthew, Michael and Elizabeth.

The family would like to express their appreciation and gratitude to the staff of Buckner Parkway Place for the support and ministry they provided to Billie.