Richard Thomas Schmidt

Richard Thomas Schmidt, of Missouri City, Texas, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday morning, October 1st, 2023, in Houston, TX. He was 70 years old. He was born April 6th, 1953, in San Antonio, Texas, to Herbert Emil “Herbie” Schmidt, Sr., and Constance “Connie” Ann Velarde Schmidt. He was an eighth-generation Texan through his mother’s side, and the descendant of several of the founding Canary Islander families of San Antonio.

Richard grew up in San Antonio, TX, and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1971. While in high school, he was in the ROTC, and received a four-year Army ROTC scholarship to Trinity University. At Trinity, he was a member of the ROTC and the Pershing Rifles, and he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Richard graduated from Trinity University in 1975, and received his commission to the United States Army and began active duty in July 1975 as a Second Lieutenant. He was first stationed at Fort Gordon, GA to attend Signal Officers Basic School, the Artillery Communications Officer School in Fort Sill, OK, and then Fort Lewis, WA, where he spent most of his Army career.

Richard married Susan Nell Hummel Schmidt on August 7, 1976, at Richmond Avenue Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. After the wedding, the couple moved to Fort Lewis, WA, where Richard was stationed, for the next three years. While at Fort Lewis, Richard received many commendations and recognition for his excellent service, leadership, and ability to remain cool and logical under heavy pressure. His superiors strongly recommended him for promotion and leadership positions. Richard served four years with the United States Army on active duty, one year in reserves, and left with an honorable discharge as a Captain in January 1982.

After his military service, Richard and Susan moved to Missouri City, TX, where Richard began his career as an electrical engineer with Shell Oil Company. Richard held many positions at Shell over his 35-year long career, but spent many years at the Information Center working in international telecommunications. Richard retired from Shell in 2014.

Richard and Susan had two daughters, Sarah Elizabeth Schmidt Crandall, born in December 1984, and Kaitlynn Suzanne Schmidt, born in February 1988. Richard was deeply involved in the lives and activities of his daughters, from making banners for their softball teams and attending practices, to buying a horse for Kaitlynn and taking her riding every week. As a family, the Schmidts attended Sugar Creek Baptist Church, where Richard was active as an usher for many years, and eventually served as a Bible study leader in later years.

Richard became a grandfather in June 2006, first to Matthew George Crandall, and then again in July of 2010, to Seth Richard Crandall. He dedicated every free moment he had to his grandsons and family, supporting them in baseball, Cub Scouts, concerts, marching band and football games, swimming lessons, helping with homework and dinners, going to bookstores, putting together model planes, flying kites, taking them to Build ‘N Grow workshops, and making every moment he had with them count.

During this time, Richard was also deeply involved in his community, as a member of the Fort Bend R.C. Club, and serving as its president for two years, as well as the Fort Bend Astronomy Club, and participating in many club events, particularly the Astronomy on Wheels program and Astronomy days at the George Observatory at Brazos Bend State Park. Richard strongly believed in giving back to his community, whether it was serving at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, helping people on the side of the road, or nominating families for Mattress Mack’s/Gallery Furniture’s Annual Christmas Giveaway.

Richard’s hobbies covered a wide range of interests from woodworking, to model airplanes and remote-controlled airplanes, music, playing his guitar and singing, flying, model trains, working on cars, particularly his beloved “Blue Max”, a 1958 Chevy Bel Air, and stained glass. Richard’s large and extended family frequently benefitted from his hobbies, receiving the fruits of his labor as Christmas gifts many years, such as bunny toothbrush holders, wooden gumball machines, or beautiful stained glass dodecahedron kaleidoscopes.

Richard loved the US Navy Blue Angels and US Air Force Thunderbirds Aerobatics teams, and attended many Wings Over Houston Air Shows with his family over the years. He also frequented the Lone Star Flight Museum and shared his interest in WWII aircraft with his grandsons.

Richard was diagnosed with a rare form of Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Isolated Bulbar ALS, in 2015. His diagnosis only served to fuel his strength in his faith, and his determination to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all parts of the world. Richard’s faith was a defining characteristic of his last years of life, how he chose to live, to serve his family and community, and was what sustained him through the last months and years of the disease. Richard contracted COVID-19 in March 2023, and was rushed to the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center for treatment. The excellent care provided by the medical teams of the ICU saved Richard. Although he spent the last six months of his life at the DeBakey VA Hospital due to the severity of his condition post-COVID, the compassionate care he received from the 3rd Floor team was unmatched in professionalism, kindness, and generosity. The family would like to express their extreme gratitude and thanks to all at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center who helped care for Richard during the last months of his life.

Richard is survived by his wife of 47 years, Susan Schmidt, his daughters, Sarah Crandall and Kaitlynn Schmidt, his son-in-law George Crandall, his grandsons, Matthew and Seth Crandall, his brother, Martin Edward “Eddie” Schmidt and his wife, Kathy Schmidt, and many, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Richard is predeceased by his parents, Herbie and Connie Schmidt, and his siblings, Yvonne Schmidt Barloco, Herbert Emil Schmidt, Jr., Bridget Ann Schmidt Walker, and Kathleen Marie Schmidt.

The visitation for Richard T. Schmidt will be Thursday, October 5th, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Settegast-Kopf Company @ Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

A private burial will take place at the Houston National Cemetery on Friday, October 6th, 2023.

The Celebration of Life for Richard will take place Friday, October 6th, 2023, at 12:30 p.m., at the Chapel at Sugar Creek Baptist Church, 13223 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like the request donations to either Living Water International, a charity with a mission close to Richard’s heart, or to the ALS Therapy Development Institute, an organization working towards researching a cure for ALS. Fundraisers have been set up in Richard’s name with both organizations.

Living Water International Fundraiser: https://fundraise.water.cc/team/533986?is_new=true

ALS Therapy Development Institute: https://fundraise.als.net/rtschmidt/preview

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.settegastkopf.com for the Schmidt family.