Obituary of Dr. Frank Joseph Schmitt, III

Dr. Frank Joseph Schmitt, III, 77 of Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, met his Lord and Savior face-to-face on Friday, June 24, 2016. He was born on Monday, June 19, 1939 in Montgomery, AL, Frank earned an M. R. E. and Ed. D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and an M. B. A. from Lynchburg College. He invested 56 years in ministry, was Minister of Education in Texas, and pastored churches in Alabama, Louisiana, and Virginia, including 16 years at Staunton Baptist Church at Smith Mountain Lake, VA. In 1973, Frank moved to Virginia to help start Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary, where, at the time of his death, he had been a professor for 43 years. He served his community as chaplain and volunteer firefighter for Saunders Fire Department and also as a YMCA board member. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Frank J. Schmitt, Jr., and Louise A. Schmitt as well as his sister, Dot Lisenby. Left to cherish his memory are his devoted and loving wife of fifty-eight years, Bobbie O'Daniel Schmitt; children, Michael Schmitt (Catherine), Todd Schmitt (Robin) and Christie Quinn (Aaron); nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren; his sister, Ethel Schmitt Brown (Ray), as well as other family members, and countless people to whom he ministered over the years. Frank was a generous, humorous and hard working man who enjoyed time with family, teaching, going to southern gospel concerts with Bobbie, watching TV and fishing, but most of all serving God. A special thanks to Dr. Michael Valentine, Dr. Kevin Patel, Dr. Paul Bennett and Dr. Aaron Quinn for their loving care of Frank. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Liberty University to fund the Frank Schmitt Doctor of Ministry Scholarship Fund, 1971 University Boulevard, Lynchburg, VA 24515. The family will receive friends at 10 AM on Saturday, July 2, 2016 preceding a memorial service at 11 AM to celebrate Frank's life. Both will take place at Staunton Baptist Church, 15267 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway, Huddleston, VA 24104, where he was an active member. The service will be officiated by Pastor Grant Harbridge, Dr. Carl Diemer & Dr. Steve Vandergriff. To send condolences, go to www.updikefuneralhome.com Arrangements are being handled by Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.