Richard Allen Schmidtke

Dr. Richard Allen Schmidtke, WW II veteran, age 91, of Hiawassee, Ga. passed away unexpectedly Monday,March 27, 2017 at The Ronnie Green Heart Center in Gainesville, Ga. He was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan on July 27, 1925 and was the only child of Albert Herman and Lillian Morlock Schmidtke. He grew up in St. Joseph,Michigan and graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1942. B.S.and M.S..in Mechanical Engineering U of Michigan 1949, Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering Illinois Institute of Technology 1953. Some of his achievements (to many to list)include patents for Explosive Joining Device ; Method for Obtaining High Beam Quality in Gas Dynamic Laser ; Staff Sergeant U.S.Army (1944-1946) Manhattan Project (9812th Special Engineer Detachment) (a 19 yr.old who helped with the design of the "Fat Man"Nagasaki Bomb) Los Almos,N.M.; Project engineer-assistant vice-pres. Melpar Inc. Falls Church. VA. (analog to digital computer) 1953-1960; Vice President of Laser. Program United Technologies/Pratt Whitney Aircraft West Palm Beach,FL.(1960-until retirement 1982) ;pitched for the Cleveland Browns and SED baseball team.
He was a member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Engineer of Year award 1976); Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, Phi Kappa Psi, and Sigma Pi; and a life time member Towns County Historical Society.
He is survived by the love of his life Elizabeth I. (Betty) Phillips. A love story made in heaven. (Marriage July 3, 2014); son John Fredrick Schmidtke, Tequesta, Fl. brother-in-law Lynn K.Phillips (Laverne Weeks),Hiawassee,Ga. ; sister-in-laws Helen Phillips (Gary) McCutcheon Crystal River, Fl.; Caroline Reece Kimsey and Becky Reece Kimsey Franklin, NC; nephews Kris (Kim) Phillips Hiawassee,Ga. Bryan (Chenoa) McCutcheon Crystal River,Fl. Marty, Stevie and Greg Kimsey Franklin N.C. nieces Heidi Phillips (Richie)Aaron Braselton,Ga. Ginny Phillips (Jim) Shirley Hiawassee,Ga. Tammy Walker (Keith) ,April Kimsey and Meg (Mike) Mason Franklin, N.C. Laura Radecki, Lecanto, FL; great nephews Austin Arrowood Athens,Ga. Triipp and Carter Shirley Hiawassee nieces Kemerson and Emmalyn Aaron Braselton; favorite granddaughters Autumn Shepard and Amanda Schmidt of Fl, a host of Phillips, Penland, Kimsey and Moore relatives and special friends Frank and Ann Abadessa, Lake City, Fl.; David and Myrtle Sokol Hiawassee.
Richie was preceded in death by two spouses Ella Mae West and Marjorie Eirkerson Moore Schmidtke (1933-2012) and a son David Schmidtke (1960-1975).
This extraordinary man had a great love for all God's creatures great or small. Nothing gave him greater joy than being able to help others anonymously. One of his favorite verses after his marriage to Betty was " laughter does good like medicine".
In keeping with his wishes no service is planned. Please consider a random act of kindness in honor of his memory or donation to the Towns County Historical Society P.O. 1182 Hiawassee, Ga. 30546. The family will have a.celebration of life in honor of his 92nd birthday on July 23, 2017 2-4 pm at the Towns County Activities and Enlightenment Center for Seniors
(US-76) 954 N Main St. Hiawassee,Ga.

Arrangements entrusted to the Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.