Wilbert Clarence "Bert" Schneider

W.C. (Bert) Schneider, 91, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2014 at a local hospital in Abilene, TX. Funeral services will be 1:00p.m., Thursday, August 7, 2014 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 4933 S. 7th, St., Abilene with Rev. LaVerne Janssen officiating. Burial will follow in Albany, TX at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery under the direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home 5701 Hwy 277 South. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 5:30p.m. to 8:00p.m. at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Hwy 277 South., Abilene.

Bert was born May 28, 1923 in Kempner, TX to Alfred and Sara (Leschber) Schneider. When Bert was about 3 years old they moved to Albany, TX. With his parents and three sisters, they farmed six miles northeast of Albany. Trinity Lutheran Church had a school a half mile from their house that Bert attended while continuing to help the family with the farming.

Bert served in the U.S. Army from May 5, 1943 to February 20, 1946 as a Marching Gunner. He served in the South Pacific Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Bougainville, Philippines, Leyte, Samoa, and Cebu. Bert was wounded in Cebu and received a Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, plus other citations. After being discharged from the Army, he moved to Abilene, TX and started his career with Republic Supply in the oilfield supply business. He also worked for Superior Iron Works Supply Co., Oil States Rubber Co., and later as a manufacturer’s agent and owner of RoadRunner Sales Co. In 1949, Bert married Renata (Boettcher) Schneider. To this union three daughters were born; Phyllis Baum, Gail Batko, and Lynn Roeder.

He retired in 2003 after 55 years in the business. Bert also raised cattle in Shackelford, Eastland, and Callahan counties. Bert was a member of the Texas State Rifle Association, Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, National Rifle Association, The American Legion, Life Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Life Member of Disabled American Veterans, and a member of the Callahan-Shackelford County Farm Bureau. He attended the Lutheran Church in Albany and in Abilene all his life. In his younger years, Bert loved to hunt doves, quail, and bullfrogs.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Renata; and a sister, Marilyn.

Bert is survived by his daughters, Phyllis Baum and husband, David, Gail Batko, and Lynn Roeder and husband, Carl all of Abilene; grandchildren, Jonathan Baum, Jeremy Baum, Emily Batko Clement and husband, Jeff, Ross Batko, Brooke Roeder Andrus and husband, Ethan, Harrison Roeder, and Austin Roeder and wife, Callie; great-grandchildren, Keylei Clement, Jagger Clement, Brynley Clement, Emerson Andrus, and Esme Andrus; sisters, Alline Weiser and Elvia Parnell; brother-in-laws, Wilford Noack and Wayne Edwards; and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to send a special thanks to Bert’s doctors and the Hendrick Hospice Staff.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Hour, or to your favorite charity.

You may view and sign the guestbook at www.elliott-hamil.com