Obituary: Schoessler, Harold
Age 94
A life long resident of the Ritzville area, he was born October 9, 1918, on the family farm 14 miles northwest of Ritzville.
His parents were Jacob and Pauline (Schmidt) Schoessler.
He graduated from Ritzville High School in 1937 and served in the US Army as part of the first group called to duty from Adams County during World War II.
He was in the last cavalry regiment formed by the US Army, the 74th Horse Drawn Field Artillery.
This made Harold one of the last horsemen of the US Cavalry.
He returned to the family farm where he worked and lived until marrying Doris B.
Wise on October 26, 1948.
Harold was involved with farming his entire life.
He also worked and retired from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
He was active throughout his 80s and into his 90s.
He traveled to Europe to reconnect with Schoessler relatives who had returned to Germany from Russia; he went to Louisiana to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina; and he proudly traveled to Washington DC as part of the Honor Flight for US Veterans.
Surviving are his wife, Doris, of Spokane, WA; son, Dale (Pam) Schoessler of Othello, WA; daughters, Kathryn (Grant Schumaker) of Deer Harbor, WA and Carol Lee Frank of Ritzville, WA; grandchildren, Tami, Lisa, Courtney, Angela and Sierra; great-grandchildren, Daniel, Chelsea, Wyatt, Brynley and Paytyn; sister, Esther Foley of Spokane, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Mary Schwan and Hannah Lovik; and a half-sister, Selma (Sally) Morrell.
A private burial was held at Eastern Washington Veterans Cemetery on May 31, 2013.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Zion Philadelphia UCC, 301 E. Broadway, Ritzville WA 99169.