Hatfield Man, 92, World War II Vet, Engineer, Passes Away

Image and obituary courtesy Huff and Lakjer Funeral Home

HATFIELD, PA — Rudolph Schneider passed away quietly in his sleep on October 3, 2017 at his home in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. He was 92.

Born at home on June 30, 1925 in Buffalo, NY, Rudy was a small outgoing child recognized early for his singing voice. During his teenage years in Buffalo, he was often invited to sing on the radio.

World War II broke out when he was in high school. Upon graduation, he briefly attended Columbia University and then joined the US Navy. His final assignment was Chief of the Electrical Division for the 61st Seabee Battalion on Samar in the Philippines.

After the war, Rudy returned to Buffalo and completed his engineering degree at the University of Buffalo. Summers he worked at Linde Labs, a division of Union Carbide, where he was awarded a patent for his research work. It was also at this time that he met Grace Ann Kilbert who was completing her college work at D’Youville College. They were married in 1949 and moved to Yonkers where he took his first job with the New York Telephone Company.

In 1950, Rudy came to Hornell as the Vice President and Plant Manager of the Hornell Brewing Company. The Hornell Brewery had been purchased from the Schwarzenbach family after Prohibition by Rudy’s father-in-law and had been producing Old Ranger beer for Western New York, Northern Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio since 1933. Rudy’s years with the brewery were some of the most prosperous and successful years for the organization.

In 1960 the Brewery was sold and Rudy shifted to become a teacher of technical electricity and electronics for the Hornell High School. His 3 years teaching created a passion for education and specifically vocational education which, at that time in the early 1960’s, was limited to typing for girls and shop class for boys. In 1965 Rudy completed a Masters in Vocational Education and under the auspices of Albany and the newly formed Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) he began to develop a broad base of Vocational offerings for the Southern Tier Counties of Allegheny, Steuben and Chemung. From a few scattered courses, there were soon a broad offering of career trainings ranging from Agricultural technology, Cosmetology, Business and Merchandising to Automotive repair, Building Trades, and Child Care. In 1965 Rudy became Director of the Steuben County BOCES and in the late 1960’s drove the construction of two Vocational Centers, one in Coopers Plains outside Corning and the Wildwood Campus in Hornell, built on the site of the old Hornell Sanitarium

Rudy’s stewardship of these programs over the next 15 years saw a growth in quality of teachers, quality of facilities and interest of the students. From a handful of graduating students in shop classes by the 1970’s nearly 35 % of the students were involved in some form of vocational career training.

During this time Rudy was actively involved in the city of Hornell. He served as President of the Hornell Chamber of Commerce, President of the Hornell Exchange Club, President of the Hornell Industrial Club and President of the Hornell Community Chest Board. He was a Director of the Hornell Baseball Association and a Director of the Hornell YMCA Board.

His community service extended to being an Executive Board member of the Steuben Area Boy Scouts, and a member of the board of directors of the American Red Cross.

Rudy was very active with his faith and his church. He served as President of the CCD at St. Ann’s, a member of the Parish Advisory Council, and a member of the St. Ann’s School Board of Education. Additionally he was a past Faithful Navigator, 4th Degree for the Knights of Columbus.

Rudy lived with Grace for 50 years in North Hornell where he was also a Village Board Trustee. Rudy retired in 1982 and worked part time as an adjunct professor for Oswego State College. In 2000, Rudy and Grace left Hornell and for some time split their time between residences in Hatfield (Philadelphia), PA and Stuart, FL. In 2011, they settled full time in Hatfield near daughters Karen and Mary.

An avid reader of history, Rudy incorporated it into his love of travel, finding perspective and historical significance in all the places he visited. Rudy continued to sing in the St. Ann’s Church choir and in the Hornell Minstrel shows of the early 60’s. His garrulous nature and easy laugh made him a natural in his many appearances as Santa for community groups throughout the Southern tier. His retirement years afforded him time to indulge in two other passions; reading and fishing.

In September, he celebrated 68 years of marriage with Grace. For all his accomplishments in business, in education, in the community, Rudy will ultimately be remembered as a model husband and father. He welcomed and inspired all he met and derived pure joy when spending time with his family.

Rudy is survived by 14 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; as well as his wife, Grace; children, Mary Medoff (Mike) of Lansdale, PA; Frank Schneider (Anna) of Arlington, VA; Karen Quinlan (Joe) of Doylestown, PA; and Mark Schneider (Lorraine) of Crownsville, MD.

Relatives and friends will be received on Monday, October 16 after 10:00 a.m. in Corpus Christi R.C. Church, 900 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale, and are invited to attend his Funeral Mass at 11:00 am. Interment will be held in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Buffalo, NY.