Dr. Robert B. Scheidt

Dr. Robert B. Scheidt, 78, of Van Wert, died at 6:45 p.m. Saturday, December 15, 2012, at his residence.

He was born September 8, 1934, in Celina, the son of the late Dr. Walter Charles and Geneva Pearl (Basil) Scheidt. On June 3, 1961, he married Sandra K. (Pequignot) Scheidt, who survives at the residence.

Dr. Scheidt was a member of First United Methodist Church since he was a young boy and had served the church as lay pastor, Sunday school teacher and a member of the church’s Senior Choir.

A 1952 graduate of Van Wert High School and a 1956 graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., Dr. Scheidt earned his medical degree from Northwestern Medical School. He served in Germany as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps for three years during the Berlin Crisis and practiced general surgery in Celina, Van Wert, Coldwater and Paulding from 1969 to 2001. He was serving as a prison chaplain at Lima Correctional Institute and was a member of the Christian Medical Dental Association since 1958, serving as president from 1993-1995, and was also chairman of the Bioethics Committee for many years. Through CMDA, he led missions and performed surgery in the Dominican Republic for more than 20 years. He loved being home with his wife and family and has now gone to his eternal home.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Deborah Scheidt of Germany; three sons, Mark (Mona) Scheidt of Van Wert, Douglas (Erin) Scheidt of Annapolis, Md., and John (Krista) Scheidt of Wheaton, Ill.; and 10 grandchildren, Karl, Rebecca, Annika, Lauren, Rachael, Jacob, Benjamin, Lizzie, Jack and Joshua.

A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m. Tuesday, December 18, at First United Methodist Church in Van Wert, with the Revs. Gus Christo-Baker and Dillon Staas officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.

There will be no calling hours.

Preferred memorials: First United Methodist Church.

Arrangements were handled by Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert.

Online condolences may be left at www.cowanfuneralhome.com.