Robert A. Schmidt

Corvallis – Robert A. Schmidt, 86, departed this life peacefully December 29, 2014. He was born in San Antonio, TX January 11, 1928, lived in Kansas City, MO as a child, moved to Oklahoma City, then to Harrison, AR.
He went into the Navy in 1946, served two years, then returned to Oklahoma City. He worked in a saddle shop as an apprentice to build boots, shoes, saddles and horse gear. He started working in the Fire Dept. in Oklahoma City in 1952.
On March 28, 1952, he and Nita Holcomb were married. He worked at the Naval Station in Norman, Oklahoma as a fireman. In 1956, he was hired at Shepherd AF Base and worked in the fire department for two years.
In 1958 he moved to Colorado Springs and worked in the fire department at the AF Academy until he retired in 1978. He moved his family to the Bitterroot Valley to retire.
He always did leather work on his days off, had several shops and finally moved it all to his home. He had great interest in the Fur Trade Era and built many saddles, boots, shoes, and clothing for that era.
He loved to read and study history, went to many museums to photograph items that he would try to produce and he shipped many saddles and other horse gear all over the nation and to other countries.
He is survived by his wife, Nita, his sons, Roibert Allen (Nancy) of Colorado Springs, Michael of Grand Junction, CO, David Wayne, (Susanne) Corvallis, MT, nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren, a brother Howard L. Schmidt (Carol) of Moore, OK, and sister Margaret Gadbury (Glen) of Burleson, TX.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard W. and Nora Schmidt.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Corvallis Community Church, March 28, 2015 at 2 p.m. He was cremated and his ashes will be placed in the Veterans Cemetery in Missoula at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Corvallis Community Church, Bldg. Fund, NMLRA, AMM or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.