Donna Joan Schneider

Donna Joan (Ford) Schneider (91) was born on September 25, 1934, in Coon Rapids, Iowa, during the height of Great Depression to a hardworking tenant farmer, Victor Ford, and to his equally hardworking 19-year-old wife, Gertrude. Like many in that day, Donna grew up without luxuries, in a farmhouse without indoor plumbing, central heat or electricity but, thankfully, as farmers they always had plenty to eat, which was not always the case in cities. She observed later that "we never knew we were 'poor' because so was everyone else back then." It was a good childhood, and she valued her farm roots her entire life for the skills, determination, and "can do" attitude she brought into most every situation. She spoke gratefully of those growing up years because of their joys and character-building benefits, later pointing out that "she may have left the farm, but the farm never left her." This fact was often evidenced by her love of gardening, canning, sewing, and DIY house care, including hanging wallpaper. There wasn't much she couldn't do.

Born just one year after her twin brothers, Dick and Bob, the threesome often functioned nearly as triplets until the twins grew old enough to tease her for their primary source of entertainment. She was the only other person who could understand their secret "twin language" when they were little. After 10 years as a family of five, the "second family" came along with Lynn, Vikki, Dan and Loa, with Donna often acting as her mother's helper until she got married herself. Later in life she stated how much she enjoyed getting to know her siblings as adult friends.

Donna first met her husband Richard Dean Schneider through the window of a movie theater ticket booth, and they married on December 15, 1957. They were married just shy of 61 years, and raised four children, and have 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Other than her relationship with God, there was nothing Donna valued more than her growing clan.

Donna went to a one-room schoolhouse as a child, to which she walked 10 miles uphill each way through blizzards, until she was bused into town school for junior high. Adapting to that major cultural shift prepared her for the many culture shocks she would encounter throughout her life as she moved as a young bride, first from the cornfields of Iowa to the city of Boston, MA, then to the suburbs of Minneapolis, MN, then to New England (Connecticut) where Dick was transferred for his job, and later, overseas to Sydney, Australia where Dick ran the Pacific Division of Stauffer Chemical Company. In each strange new place she adapted: making new friends, learning new lingo, and positively impacting people wherever she went. She gained a love of travel through these periodic new settings, and traveled to too many countries to enumerate here. She additionally lived in Philadelphia (2yrs), Illinois (20 yrs), and lastly in Virginia (9 yrs). She has made, loved, and retained friends in each place.

Both Dick and Donna grew up in church, but only fully understood salvation through a home Bible study in their 30s, when they committed their lives to following Jesus. Donna spent the rest of her life investing in the Kingdom of Heaven by exercising hospitality, including inviting international students from the International Students Fellowship (ISF) at the U of MN into our home for meals and games, hosting teenager and adult Bible study groups, co-teaching womens' Bible Studies, and mentoring young married couples in the Newlyweds Class at Black Rock Congregational Church in Fairfield, CT alongside her husband.

Donna was an amazing cook and was admired for her hospitality. She made her home a warm, welcoming, delightful place, being well known for her personal warmth, her decorating style, and her cheery teapot collection. Whether it was hosting a formal dinner for corporate VIPs, holding ladies luncheons, or treating her great-grandchildren to miniature tea parties, she was "The Hostess with the Mostest."

Finally, Donna had a good sense of humor (which Dick openly admitted was a necessary survival skill for being married to him), and she relied on it quite a bit as she grew older and more dependent on others. She rightly concluded that being able to laugh at the ridiculous side of life helped one endure the aging process, because so many things do seem rather ridiculous in the later stages. She had a point and her positive attitude cheered many.

Donna passed away in Lynchburg, VA the evening of Tuesday, November 18, 2025, after a mercifully brief bout of pneumonia. She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard (1928-2018), her parents Victor Ford and Gertrude (Headlee) Ford, and her brothers Richard, Robert, Lynn, and Dan Ford. She leaves behind her sisters Victoria Ford and Loa (Ford) Christensen (Burdette), her Ford sisters-in-law Roberta, Carole, Patti, and Sue.

Her much-loved descendants include four children:

Terry Schneider (Donna Jeanne), Karen Seevers (Dr. Boyd Seevers), Kathy Schneider, and Dr. Susan Schneider Rocco (Dr. Carmen Rocco).

Her 14 Grandchildren include: (Terry's) Major Joseph Schneider (Katie; Jonathan, Caleb, Seth, and Ella), Samuel Schneider (Jessica; Isaac and Craig), Michael Schneider (Bethany; Caroline, Emily Kate, Grant, Everett), Timothy Schneider (Miranda; James, Lily, Lucy, William), Jessica Schneider, John Schneider (Charissa; Atlas, Avonlea), and Julia Schneider.

(Karen's): Joshua Seevers, Rachel Seevers Ricci (Will; Declan, Ethan), Yoni Seevers (Emily; Aurora, Milo), and Becca Seevers.

(Susan's): Christopher Schneider, Olivia Rocco, and stepdaughter, Eliese Rocco.

Her family and friends feel her loss deeply, but also rejoice, knowing she is Home at last, fully healed, happy, and whole.

A service will be held at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 11AM with a visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow at the Tree of Life Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to MedSend.org. Or mail checks to MedSend, 1838 Gold Hill Rd, Fort Mill, SC 29708.

Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.