Robert Eugene Schmelter, Jr., 79, of Litchfield, died Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, at 11:15 a.m. at his home.
Graveside funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m. in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield. Due to parking arrangements in Elm Lawn Cemetery, the funeral procession will line up at Plummer Funeral Home at 10:45 a.m. Military honors will be paid by VFW Post 3912 and U.S. Air force Funeral Honors team of Scott Air Force Base. Visitation will not be held.
Mr. Schmelter was born July 18, 1940, in East St. Louis, a son of Robert Eugene and Gladys Deana (White) Schmelter, Sr. He married the former Donna Lea Howard on April 1, 1976, in Greenville, and she survives.
He was a veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He retired from International Paper Co./CPC Rexel, where he was a maintenance mechanic for over 20 years. He and his wife owned and operated B&D Military Surplus in downtown Litchfield for several years.
A member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, he was a life member of the VFW Post 3912, the Litchfield Moose Lodge 1634 and a life member of the NRA. He enjoyed woodworking, gunsmithing, collecting knives and guns, taking target practice, and he loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Robert E. Schmelter, III of Corpus Christi, TX; a daughter, Susan (John) Stewart of Worden; a brother, GySgt David (June) Schmelter, USMC (retired) of Jacksonville, NC; two sisters, Janet Hanna of Exton, PA, and Brenda Beljanski of Granite City; three grandchildren, Robert Dylan Schmelter, Brittney (Thomas) Rydberg and Amanda Bess; and three great-grandchildren, Avery, Thomas and Bennett.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth Jane Schmelter.
Memorials may be made to the Litchfield Food Pantry or the Litchfield Veterans Memorial Garden.
Online condolences may be left at www.plummerservices.com.
