Milton C. Schroeder

Milton Clarence Schroeder, 89, of Cornelius, NC died on June 12, 2012 at Levine & Dickson Hospice House. He was born January 9, 1923 in Lawton, ND to the late Clarence and Edna Fifer Schroeder. Milton enjoyed relating the circumstances of his birth. His parents lived on a small farm in North Dakota - truly a "little house on the prairie". Actually, he was born in his aunt's home in a small nearby town which had a physician. After a brief recuperation, mother and baby went by branch train on a short trip to Lakota, ND, where they were met by his father who had come from the farm by horse and sleigh (in January all roads were blocked by snow.) Then father, mother and baby went by sleigh ten miles over snow covered fields to their tiny home on the desolate ND prairie. Mr. Schroeder's college education was in chemical engineering; a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, in 1947, and Doctor's degree from Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University), Cleveland, OH in 1950. After graduating from the U.S. Army Air Corp. Officer Candidate School, Miami Beach, FL in 1943, Milton was assigned to Wright Field, Dayton, OH. He married Mary Catherine Long in Dayton on December 15, 1945 and was discharged honorably from the service in 1946. Milton worked as a chemical engineer for several companies and in 1970 founded M.C. Schroeder Company, an industrial equipment sales representative covering several states from its Charlotte office. When he retired in 1989, his youngest son Philip took over the company. Milton is survived by his loving wife of 66 years Mary (Kay) and their sons and wives: Terry (Paulette) of Sanford, NC, Stephen (Margie) of Ijamsville, MD, and Philip (Debbie) of Stanley, NC. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and a sister, Rae Schroeder Paulson of Eugene, OR. A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00pm Friday June 15, 2012 at Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 South Main St., Davidson, NC with Rev. Jody Seymour officiating. Following the service, the family will host a reception for attendees at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Davidson United Methodist Church and/or Levine & Dickson Hospice House 11900 Vanstory Dr., Huntersville, NC 28078. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com