William David Schmitz, 93, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died Thursday, December 15, 2022. He was born March 30, 1929, in Allegan, Michigan to William Emil Schmitz and Dorothy (Blanchard) Schmitz.
Bill was a 1947 graduate of Allegan High School and attended Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University. He was an electronic technician first class aboard the destroyer USS Irwin during the Korean War. He enlisted and served four years, most of them at sea. Bill sailed around the world twice. “Join the Navy and see the world†, a popular slogan at that time, proved to be true in his case. He married Rita Lois Lang in North Olmsted, Ohio at the Clague Road Congregational Church February 21, 1953. They became members of Meridian Street United Methodist Church in 1968. He was a member of the Indianapolis Sailing Club, Thistle fleet, and then sailed for years with his family on Lake Michigan aboard Windquest. Additionally, in his lifetime he had several patents and explored the world of engineering, inventing, building furniture, woodworking, photography, and wildlife.
He is survived by his wife, Rita, and his sister, Anne (Schmitz) Arnesen; his four children, Linda (Steve) Cannon, Karen Bugg (Kevin) Foley, William David (Shelly) Schmitz Jr., John Allen (Sue) Schmitz, 10 grandchildren: Melissa (Jeff) Meyers, Meghan Cannon (Joe Fischer), Sarah Bugg (Brett) Kocian, Kathryn Bugg (Leonard Jukkala), Jack Bugg, Michael (Jena) Schmitz, Matthew (Ariel) Schmitz, Ellen (Danny) Williams, Anna (Brady) Arnold, Julia Schmitz. 8 great grandchildren: Dominic, Delphine, Charlotte, Leelyn, Harper, Baron, Scarlett, and Jackie.
Memorial services will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 21, 2023, at Meridian Street United Methodist Church, 5500 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be directed to Meridian Street United Methodist Church or to the Humane Society of Indianapolis. Online condolences may be shared by visiting www.flannerbuchanan.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Flanner Buchanan – Carmel.