Obituary of James Anthony Schutz

NOTICE: Due to the current situation, the VISITATION, ROSARY and MASS are POSTPONED until a future date.The interment at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery will proceed as scheduled at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday.James Anthony “Jim” Schutz, 96, passed away March 11, 2020.Jim was born in Moulton, Texas, November 6, 1923, to Herman and Lillie (Olle) Schutz and lived in Flatonia, graduating from Flatonia High School in 1941. He attended Draughon’s Business College (San Antonio) for a year. With the start of WWII, he was called to duty, enlisting in the U.S. Army. While in the Army, he attended Ohio State University and the University of Manchester, England. In September 1944 he started his active combat duty with tours in France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. While in the service he became a Tech Sergeant in the weapons platoon, messenger for the mortar crew and served as liaison between mortar crew and company headquarters, earning World War II victory ribbon, good conduct medal, American Theater ribbon, EAME Theater ribbon and two Bronze Service Stars.Upon Army discharge in 1945, he resumed studies at the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1949. He later earned his Master of Business Administration at Texas Christian University (Fort Worth).He met Virginia Monroe while he was attending school in Austin and following his graduation, they married on February 26, 1949, residing in Fort Worth before making Arlington their home.He started his career at Montgomery Ward as a merchandiser. It was during that time that Fort Worth flooded and the water rose to the 2nd floor of the store. He assisted with the cleanup and to those displaced by this disaster.The better part of his career was spent in the mobile home industry as a purchasing agent with the Dave Hicks Co.(Grand Prairie), later acquired by Redman Ind., Anadite (Fort Worth), and 26 years with United Sales (Fort Worth) as Director of Purchasing, Vice-President/Branch Manager/Operations Mgr, and Director of Marketing.Though he said he did, he never really retired and worked parttime at Bledsoe Brace Systems, the U.S. Postal Service and as a courier with a pharmaceutical company. He was always lending a helping hand with Arlington Shelter and performed handyman services to anyone in need.Jim was an active member of St. William Catholic Church, St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, St. Matthew Catholic Church in Arlington, for over 64 years and served in many capacities, including lector, Parish Council member, CCD teacher, CCD Executive Board member, and vocations director. Later when he and Virginia moved from Arlington to Lake Whitney, he was also an active member at St. Philip Catholic Church and Holy Angels Catholic Church. Jim’s dedication to the Church is also shown through his extensive work with several organizations. He was an member of the Knights of Columbus (Grand Knight) and served as president in the Fort Worth and Arlington Serra Clubs.Jim introduced himself as ‘Gym Shoes’ and enjoyed all friendships. He and Virginia loved dancing and hosting and attending any gathering within their large circle of family, friends and neighbors. They camped and took family trips as well as trips planned around conventions, both home and abroad. Later they continued traveling with their Airstream and enjoyed winter-Texan friends in the Valley. Fishing was a favorite hobby and rain or shine, he was always open to cast a line wherever there might be fish. Speaking of throwing a line, he will fondly be remembered for his sense of humor, sharing many a joke, as he never knew a stranger, and the cornier the better. Another love of his was gardening and as a certified Master Gardener he sought and shared tips, conventional and unconventional, to achieve that successful harvest. A scout during his childhood, he actively served alongside his sons’ scout troops for many years.Jim can undoubtedly be best described as a man of highest service and all this being said, his greatest love and object of dedication and affection in life was his wife of 71 years, Virginia, their six children and spouses,18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his brother, Joseph Schutz, sister, Dorothy (Schutz) Shelton, and grandchildren, Lisa Marie Schutz and Adam Geoffrey Schutz.He is survived by his wife, Virginia Monroe Schutz; children: Peggy Skinner, Cathy Allen (Jim), Robert Schutz (Theresa), Cecelia Garcia (Doel), Tommy Schutz (Kathy), Charlie Schutz (Ellen), grandchildren and great-grandchildren.