Byron Schneider Koelz, age 90, joined her Savior on September 26, 2021. Born to John D. Schneider and Byron Horton Schneider in January 16, 1931, Byron was a member of Highland Heights Baptist Church most of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James ‘Jim’ Koelz, her sister Sylvia White and her brother-in-law Edward B. Ebbing, Jr.
Byron inspired her family and friends. She cared for her husband James who was wheelchair bound for 31 years of their marriage. Her determination led her to complete bachelors and masters’ degrees during those years and to attain a leader role in the VA Hospital’s Clinical Microbiology unit. Her faith and a Koelz family mantra of ‘family first’ sustained her. Though the Koelz and Schneider families helped Byron by sitting with James through the years, she answered the call for her family countless times. After James’ passing she became more active in The Seekers Sunday School class and the choir at Highland Heights. She took up the violin again and became a Master Gardener. Her nieces and nephews have fond memories of Saturdays in the lab, trips for ice cream or Aunt Biba’s cowboy cookies. ‘Family first’ and ‘waste not, want not’ are phrases by which children in her families remember her.
She leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Nancy M. Ebbing of Olive Branch, MS, her nephews, John D. White (Angela) and Danny White of Memphis, David Adkins of Dobson, NC, her nieces Sherri W. Pruitt of Dobson, NC, Amber White of Owensboro, KY, and Stephanie Russell (Sam) of Olive Branch, MS. Many Koelz family members survive Byron, too. She was blessed by the love of adopted nieces, Jane and Dana Adkins of Memphis, TN, special friend Richard Elmore, and her life-long friends, Charlotte O’Bryan and Jane Holland.
Please join us for a celebration of her life. Visitation for Byron takes place Thursday, September 30 at 1 p.m. at Family Funeral Care, 4925 Summer Avenue, Memphis, TN 38122. The service follows at 2 p.m. The family requests memorials be directed to Highland Heights Baptist Church, 675 National, Memphis, TN 38122 or to the Church Health Center, 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 142, Memphis, TN 38104.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FamilyFuneralMemphis.com for the Koelz family.
