Lawrence “Larry” Schneider, 95, of Benton Harbor passed away at home on Saturday, May 29, 2021, surrounded by his family. Memorial services will be held at Fairplain Presbyterian Church, 210 W Napier Ave on June 19, 2021 at 10:30 am with luncheon to follow.
Larry was the oldest of six children of Lora (née Thumm) and August Schneider. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1944 and volunteered for WWII service in the U.S. Army Air Force, stationed in Texas. Honorably discharged after his father’s premature death, Larry attended Benton Harbor Junior College and Western Michigan University. He began his teaching career as a middle school math teacher and athletic coach at Fairplain Central. He met his future wife, Phyllis Moore, a home economics teacher, on Mother’s Day 1952. They married that winter and built their home on Schneider farmland overlooking the St. Joseph River while starting their family and earning Master’s degrees from Ball State University. As Larry and Phyllis raised their family, they often went on road trips, camping in a tent-camper through 44 states. A favorite family tradition was to travel with all the Schneider aunts, uncles, and cousins. They also enjoyed camping on a property at Campbell Lake near Hesperia, MI. From Fairplain, Larry moved to BHHS where he founded the driver education program, coached girl’s softball, and finished his career as the Director of Guidance. During his tenure, Larry was a committed participant in the formation and development of the local teachers’ union. Retiring in 1983, Larry and Phyllis spent winters at Palmetto Palms in Ft. Myers, Florida, and traveled widely by RV, including a trip to Alaska. Larry enjoyed tennis and golf into his late 80’s and hosted summer gatherings in Michigan for his Ft. Myers tennis buddies. Larry will be fondly remembered for his generosity of spirit, devotion to family, remarkable energy and love of garage sales.
Larry is survived by his wife of 69 years, Phyllis, and his children Scott (Michelle Singleton), Christina, and Marc (Sue Hiering); grandchildren Claire Schneider-Jacobs and Amelia DuBois; great-grandchildren Layne, Rycken, and Freya DuBois; siblings Don, Bob (Carolyn née Akright), and Ken; brother-in-law Milt Zoschke; niece and caregiver Tina Schneider; and numerous nieces and nephews, many of whom launched their adult lives from Larry and Phyllis’ basement apartment. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Betty Zoschke, brother Duane, sisters-in-law Betty (née Couch) and Loretta (née Kaiser), and son-in-law Robert “Jake” Jacobs. In lieu of flowers, donations in Larry’s honor may be made to Habitat for Humanity or the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Purely Cremations-Starks Family Funeral Homes, 269-926-9440.