reverend father schneider
Jesus said, "I solemnly assure you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies…." (John 12:24) The Reverend Father Charles John Schneider, retired and living at the Clara Welty Apartments in Wheeling, West Virginia, died on June 10, 2009 at Ohio Valley Medical Center. Born on January 27, 1935 in Charleston, Charles was the son of the late Edward Anthony and Marie Byrne Schneider. He was also preceded in death by a sister Rita Marie Schneider. Father Charlie is survived by his sister Mrs. Mary Schneider McCoy of Dallas, Texas; niece, Judy McCoy Arras (Frank) of Dallas, Texas, and their two children and nephew Gerard L. McCoy (Lisa) and their four children of Tucson, Arizona. Charles was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Charleston Catholic High School. He earned a B. S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Dayton and worked for Montgomery Ward in Albany, New York, before entering the Seminary. He was an alumnus of Mt. St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. Fr. Schneider was ordained to the Priesthood on May 25, 1963, by the Most Rev. Joseph H. Hodges, D. D., Bishop of Wheeling (-Charleston). He served as Associate Pastor at St. Anne's in Bristol, Virginia, from 1963-1965. He was Pastor of : St. Thomas Aquinas in Thomas, West Virginia, St. Veronica's in Davis, and Our Lady of Mercy in Parsons from 1965-1971; Sacred Heart in Bluefield from 1971-1981; St. Joseph the Worker in Weirton from 1981-1993; and St. Vincent de Paul in New Martinsville from 1993-2002. Fr. Charles was very supportive of the Teens Encounter Christ movement, establishing Bluefield as a T. E. C. Center for Southern West Virginia. He served on the first Board of Directors for Catholic Community Services in Southern West Virginia. Calling upon his engineering background, he helped introduce the use of gabions (wire baskets filled with stones) to the state. While serving in Weirton, he spearheaded the establishment of Weirton Steel as an E. S. O. P. Within the Diocese, Fr. Schneider served: as a Diocesan Consulter, as Dean of the Bluefield and Weirton Deaneries for a total of 14 years; was a member of the Priests' Senate; served on the Peace and Justice, Unity, and the Art and Architecture Commissions for the Diocese; and was involved in various local hospital boards and local commissions. His body will be received at St. Joseph's Cathedral, 13th and Eoff Streets, Wheeling, on Sunday, June 14th, at 2:00 P.M. Visitation will be held from 2:00P.M. until 6:00 P.M., when Evening Prayer for the Deceased will be celebrated by Very Reverend Anthony Cincinnati, S. T. D., V. E. for Clergy, with the Reverend Father Larry W. Dorsch, Pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Weirton delivering the homily. Additional visitation will be held Monday from 9:00 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Michael J. Bransfield, the Eighth Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, on Monday, June 15th, at 11:00 A.M. The Reverend Father William A. Anderson, D. Min., Ph. D., will be the homilist. A Funeral Luncheon will be provided for relatives, friends, and clergy in the Great Hall at Central Catholic High School. Following the luncheon, interment will take place at 3:00 P.M. in St. Paul Cemetery, Weirton. In Lieu of flowers donations can be be made to the Valley Hospice 10686 State Route 150 Rayland, OH 43943 or to your local Hospice. Donations may also be made to the Guest House 1601 Joslyn Road Lake Orion MI 48360 Share tributes and memories at www.grecohertnick.com Funeral Home: Greco Hertnick Funeral Home 3219 Main Street Weirton, WV US 26062

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  1. Matthew 25:23 “His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” I won’t have enough space to share what I felt for Fr. Schneider. He was so crucial to me and others in Davis/Thomas/Parsons area during our teen years – CYO, plays we put on, trips in the old yellow bus for ice cream in Oakland; baseball games in Pittsburgh. Memories, the best part of life. I visited him in Morgantown when he prepared for lung surgery – had him on prayer lists then and now. Kept in touch when either of us had any crisis. He always had time to listen. He remained a confidant all through these 44 years and I will miss him beyond words. The afternoon of his death he was on my mind, but he knew how I felt and I’d told him how his guidance and friendship had gotten me through many rough times. I spoke with him just days ago. The Lord truly blessed us with Father Charles!! The Diocese was so fortunate to have such a loving, caring priest. Mary, I know it is a difficult time for you and the family but thank God the suffering is over. You remain in my thoughts and prayers these next difficult days. After sharing the joy of his jubilee, I’m sorry I’m too far to make the trip now.

  2. Fr. Schneider showed me faith & perseverance in my daily life when I first met him @ St. Vincent de Paul’s parish! He was understanding, patient and always, always a “good listener.” He was a friend to all children and especially loved the teens. He loved sharing “lock-in” times with the teens of our parish. His love for sports introduced him to our family of “brother Estep’s” and he enjoyed many football games with us and family picnics @ the Camp. The Lord gave Fr. Charlie to us and blessed us with his caring heart. May he know his suffering is over and enjoy his presence with the Lord! I keep you in my thoughts & prayers always.

  3. To the Family of Fr. Charlie: I am originally from Weirton, WV, and came to know Fr. Charlie through our extended family that attended St. Joseph the Worker and though other diocesan venues. Life eventually led me to the Seminary and ordination for the Diocese when Fr. Charlies was Dean of the Weirton Deanery — he was always most supportive. He had co-ministerial ties with my now deceased mother, Mary Jane, who facilitated the Faith & Light Program for the Deanery. When I was ordained, he presented my mother with a medal that had belonged to his mother. The sterling silver pendant had incriped upon it: “Mother of a Priest.” My mother it from 1990 to 2002 — when I took leave of the official ministry of the Diocese. At that time, she and I decided that it should be presented to the mother of Father Larry Dorsch. This precious heirloom lives on in the Diocese. Over the past several years I have lived a distance from Wheeling and the Northern Panhandle. Fr. Charlie has often come to mind and I have said many a prayer for his health and well being each time he has come to mind. Although saddened by his passing, I am certain that he is resting from a fruitfull venture in the vineyard of our Lord. Please be assured of my heartfelt sympathy and prayerful support. In Christ’s peace, Stanley T. Tuchalski

  4. To Father Charlie’s Family, my deepest sympathy for your loss and ours. Father Charlie was so kind and there for my family during bad times and good times. Births, deaths, hospitilizations, marraiges, etc. He never forgot to ask about family members, ever. May he rest in the Peace of the Lord forever.

  5. I knew Fr. Schneider when he was at Sacred Heart, Bluefield, WV. He instructed my sons, Nicholas and Daniel to become altar boys. He was a good listener,friend, and a wonderful priest. He saw me through difficult times as a young parent. There will always be a place in my heart for Fr. Schneider. He is resting in peace with the God he gave his life to.

  6. Everett and Becky Barnes would like to extend condolences to the family of Fr. Charlie Schneider. Fr. Schneider Baptized, ministered First Holy communion and Confirmed our children, Wade, Joe, Dan, Tom and Melissa Barnes during his service to the congregation of Bluefield. He will be sadly missed.

  7. Dear Mary and Family of Father Charlie, You have my sympathy. The last time we talked Father Charlie told us of his illness and said “I’m not afraid, I’m ready I’m ready”. He was a special priest and friend, always ready to listen. He cared so much about getting the young people involved in their faith and church. He was a good shepherd to his little flock at St. Joe’s and guided us thru the ruff times of ESOP, deaths, and crises’. He was also eager to celebrate the good times, the births, weddings, graduations. Christ Renews His Parish seemed especially dear to him, I know it was to us. He was a guiding force in my faith walk and also for many others here in Weirton. He is loved and missed. Sincerely, Sharon Bish

  8. Dear Father Charlie-In-Heaven, I’m so sorry you passed away but I remembered when you said the scripture verse about when a grain of wheat must … and that is what you & God fulfilled. I was thinking about you for the past couple of weeks even though I haven’t seen you since Fr. Dube’s funeral. Thank you for blessing our home, baptizing our children, giving good advise,and giving us the Christ Renews His Parish Program. You were a very good priest. Thank you for serving us!!! Now you can be happy for forever in heaven. God Bless you & Keep you! Ken and Maureen Maleski Matthew, Kristopher, Joseph, & Mary Catherine

  9. our prayers and thoughts are with your family. father charles you will be missed i will miss our talks.

  10. To Father Charlie’s Family: I know I do not have to tell you what a special person Fr. Charlie was. He was our pastor for 12 years but he has been our friend for so many more years than that. I was amazed at how he remembered everyone and it was a rare thing for him to forget a name of a former parishioner. I was fortunate to see him last summer at our parish picnic. Though he will be missed, I think we need to thank God that his suffering is ended and he is now at the feet of the Master. May he rest in peace.

  11. My Deepest sympathies and prayers to the family of Father Charlie, I knew Father as a young man growing up in Bluefield, W.Va. I am honored to have known and loved Father. I consider him to be the greatest influence in my life. We have all been blessed by God for allowing one of his angels to be among us for so long. To teach us, inspire us, love us, be a friend to us, a parent when necessary, and most importantly a Priest. I will always hold a fond place in my heart for him and hope that I may be worthy to see him again standing next to our Lord. May God Grant you eternal Rest Father— and my his perpetual light shine upon you.

  12. what a great man. Father Schneider brought me into the Catholic church in New Martinsville. He helped me through alot of tough times, and I will be forever greatful

  13. To the family of of Father Charley”, as we endearingly called him, I offer my deepest condolances. He made it possible for me to be a part of the last, “Christ Renews His Parish,” when I was going thrrough a very difficult time in my life, due to my husband’s heart problems. The program renewed my faith and acceptance for whatever was to come, by knowing God is always with us. The butterfly was always very symbolic to him, because it was a symbol of new life. Whenever I wear my butterfly pin, I remember him and thank him for giving new life to my faith. Father Charley, please say, “Hello” to Tom and Father Dubey for me. May God Bless all of you during your time of sorrow. Love in Christ, Marie


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