Margaret Tuckwiller Schmidt
Lewisburg-Margaret Tuckwiller Schmidt, 84, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, left this earth Thursday, Jan. 22. She was the fifth daughter and seventh child of Margaret E. Phillips and Eugene A. Tuckwiller, Sr., of Lewisburg.
Margaret, known to her friends and family as Kita, was born in the Tuckwiller home on Bungers Mill Road on Feb. 10, 1930.
Kita attended Central School through eighth grade and attended Lewisburg High School, graduating in 1947. She graduated from West Virginia University in 1950 with a Bachelor in Public School Music.
Kita was married for 53 years to Col. Richard “Dick” H. Schmidt, USAF Ret., who preceded her in death in 2006.
She is survived by: her daughters, Jaine (Harry) Wyatt of Richmond, VA, Deborah (David Scott) Schmidt of Lewisburg, Patricia (James) Kassel of Louisville, KY and Rachel (Philip Schuler) Schmidt of Takoma Park, MD; eight grandchildren, Ian and Tristan Wyatt, Elizabeth Mae and William Scott, Courtney, Jordan and Margaret Kassel and Amelia Schuler; sister-in-law, Phyllis Tuckwiller and brother-in-law, William Shaffer; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and countless friends.
Together Kita and Dick created a wonderful life for their four daughters, traveling from base to base across the U.S. and in Europe. Upon Dick’s retirement from the Air Force they returned to Lewisburg. Kita was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, Ruritan, DAR, Richland Homemakers Club and PEO, and volunteered with the North House, Shepherd’s Center and Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed going to concerts at Carnegie Hall, the theater, teaching Mahjongg and visiting with relatives at the WV State Fair, which her family had helped to found.
In retirement Kita and Dick continued their traveling, venturing to Hawaii, Mexico, the Mediterranean and locations around the U.S. In her later years, Kita traveled twice to Namibia, Africa, to visit her daughter Rachel and family.
Kita was loving woman who greeted everyone with a warm smile. She will be missed terribly by all who knew and loved her. Comfort lies in the knowledge that she is resting peacefully with God and all those who preceded her.
Being of a generous spirit, Kita contributed to many worthy causes. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate your time, talents or monetary donations to a charity of your choice in her memory.
Services with be held Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 218 S. Court Street, Lewisburg. Burial will be at Calvary Methodist Church in the Richlands.
Funeral arrangements are through McCraw Funeral Home.
