- November 23, 2024
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Beatrice A. (Bea) Little Schmucker
1939-2022
A memorial service for Beatrice A. (Bea) Little Schmucker, 82, who passed away on 29 March, 2022 will be held on April 18, 2022 at National Veterans Cemetery Jacksonville at 11:30 with full military honors.
Mrs. Schmucker was born in Boothbay Harbor, Maine and moved to Palm Coast from Goldsboro, NC in 1972. Since then, the Palm Coast Historical Society holds the Schmuckers as the longest living original residents at this 100,000 population. She was a graduate of Boothbay Regional High School class of 1957 and a Women’s Army Corps (WAC) veteran serving from 1957-1959 as a Dental Technician, her highlight was having Elvis Presley in her dental chair.
Since then, the Palm Coast Historical Society holds the Schmuckers as the longest living original residents at this 100,000 population.
She married her husband Ron, then an Army Platoon Sergeant at Fort Dix, NJ in December 1958 and when her husband was commissioned in June 1959, she was forced to resign from the WAC’s under the Army regulation that stated that enlisted persons and officers could not co-habitate, even though they were husband and wife. She had 3 children in less than 4 years and soon took over the difficult task of every service wife, packing and moving as your husband is assigned to 21 different duty stations, being both Mother and Father as he served in overseas stations unaccompanied by family, reassuring the children as he twice went to Vietnam as an Infantryman and making new friends at new homes every 6 to 12 months. She often spoke of enrolling her son, Jon, in Bunnell Junior High School, his 13th School in 7 years. She watched him become an Army Airborne, Infantry Ranger and Platoon Sergeant, watched his brother Kurt become a Navy Chief Petty Officer and retire from the Navy, her daughter Beth become a Florida Park Ranger. Total military service of the family was 65 years.
She was notorious for spoiling her 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren and was an avid and talented woodcarver who continually turned down offers for her carvings, instead giving them to or setting them aside them aside for family members. Her miniatures of US Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard Service men with US and service flags are located in American Legion Post #1 in London, England.
Mrs. Schmucker was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be sadly missed by her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
One of 13 children, she is survived by her husband of 63 years, Ron, her half sister Mary Nolan and a close niece Tamara Peters, of Boothbay Harbor, ME, 2 sons Jon, Palm Coast, FL, Kurt and wife Cathy, Gautier, MS, a daughter Beth and husband William, Naples, FL, 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
A luncheon, short service and celebration of life will be held shortly after burial service at VFW Post 8696 Palm Coast, date to be announced.
Clymer Funeral Home Palm Coast is in charge.
SERVICE:
Monday, April 18, 11:30AM
National Veterans Cemetery Jacksonville
DONATIONS:
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 8696, Post Office box 351003, Palm Coast, Fl 32135-1003