Bill Schroeder
William E. "Bill" Schroeder, 84, a decorated World War II veteran, scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, and retired electrical engineer for Bell South, died of cancer at home in Red Bank on Tuesday.
Mr. Schroeder was the scoutmaster for many years at Red Bank United Methodist Church. Previously he had been a scoutmaster at Bonny Oaks Home
and assistant scoutmaster at Donelson Heights United Methodist Church outside Nashville. He led hundreds of camping trips, Scout camps, and helped
at least ten boys who earned the Eagle Scout rank.
In World War II he was a member of the U.S. Army's 96th Infantry Division, known as the Deadeyes. He joined the Army in December 1942 at age 19, serving in the Pacific as a squad leader of 12 men in front-line combat operations. He was wounded in the battle of Leyte Gulf, and on Okinawa.
He also served in campaigns in New Guinea, Southern Philippines, and Ryukyus. He received a purple heart with one oak leaf cluster, a bronze star for bravery in combat, a Philippine liberation medal and several other campaign and service medals.
He was born May 29, 1923, in Jonesboro, Ak., the youngest of four children of William F. and Modie Schroeder. Before the war, he attended Arkansas State College. After his honorable discharge in January 1946, he attended the University of Arkansas, before transferring to Georgia Tech, where he received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1952.
He was married in December, 1949 in Jonesboro, Ak., to Omega Moncrea
Schroeder, a World War II veteran of the Navy WAVES who later taught public
school in Chattanooga and was a homemaker. She died in November, 1994.
He married Bobbye Griswold Dedman in December, 1995.
Mr. Schroeder worked for Bell South and its predecessor telephone companies for 35 years in Chattanooga, Atlanta, Memphis and Nashville.
A longtime member of Red Bank United Methodist Church, he was a member of
the board of trustees, the administrative council, the finance committee. He was a member of the Carver-Tarwater Sunday School Class and the Methodist men's group. He received the Cross and Flame Award from the United Methodist Church for his service to the youth and scouting.
He also was a member of TelecomPioneers, Civitan International and Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.
He played bridge for many years with a group of couples in Red Bank, and
loved golf, which he took up late in life.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Omega.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbye Dedman Schroeder; two children, Linda S. (James H.) Johnston of Lancaster, Pa., and William E. "Bill" (Shi Yi)
Schroeder, Jr. of Norcross, Ga.; six grandchildren, Nancy Elizabeth
Johnston, 1st Lt. Robert E. Johnston, William Jonathan Johnston, Amy Moncrea
Johnston and Margaret "Meg" Frances Johnston, Reesa Omega Schroeder; nine
stepgrandchildren, Jamie Dedman, Chrissy Olson, David Dedman, Matthew
Dedman, Jesse Dedman, Ben Dedman, Justin Dedman, Arielle Belluck and Jillian Belluck; two great-grandchildren, Juliana Dedman and Andrew Dedman; and one sister, Lucille Schroeder Stiles of California.
The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday at Chattanooga
Funeral Home, North Chapel, 5401 Highway 153.
Services will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Red Bank United Methodist Church, 3800
Dayton Blvd., Red Bank, with the Rev. Rick Spell officiating, assisted by
Major (Ret.) James H. Johnston.
His body will lie in state for one half hour before the services.
Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Eagle Scouts from Troop 58 at Red Bank United Methodist
Church. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Carver-Tarwater Sunday
School Class.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, Ronald
McDonald House Charities, the Salvation Army, Red Bank United Methodist Church, and Hospice of Chattanooga.