Virgil Scheidt

Virgil D. Scheidt, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died Sunday, October 2, 2011, at 1:15 p.m. at Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility in Columbus. He was 83 years of age. Mr. Scheidt?s early career began in farming. He and his wife, Bettie, owned and operated a farm for over 30 years in Clay Township. As much as he loved farming, Virgil?s passion was politics. He was elected Bartholomew County Treasurer in 1960 and was re-elected to that office in 1964. In fact, Virgil was the sole Republican elected to office in the city and county that year in the midst of Lyndon B. Johnson?s presidential landslide. That same year, Virgil was elected president of the Association of Indiana County Officials and re-elected to that position in 1965 and 1966. Subsequently, he was elected as a national director of the National County Officials in 1967 and repeated as such the following year. Virgil was elected Bartholomew County Republican chairman in 1965 to fill an unexpired term, and in 1966 was elected to his first full term. He served Bartholomew County in that capacity for 33 years, stepping down in 2001. Virgil also was elected the Ninth District (later Second District) chairman in 1966 and continued serving as district chairman until 1989. Ultimately, he was elected State GOP chairman, serving in 1989. He considered it a distinct honor to serve as an elector of the Indiana Electoral College delegation in 2000 for George W. Bush in the general election. He attended eight national Republican conventions and served as a delegate. Virgil was humbled to be a three time recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash Award given to him by three different governors: Whitcomb, Bowen and Orr. Additionally, Governor Orr honored him with the Distinguished Hoosier Award in 1985. Virgil was an entrepreneur and businessman as well. He, along with partner Dale Muir, founded a real estate brokerage firm known as Athens Realty in Columbus in 1970. In 1974, Virgil was appointed to the Indiana Real Estate Commission and was a member of the commission for 15 years; he served as its chairman from 1983-85. The Columbus Board of Realtors bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award to Virgil in 1999 and he was named Realtor of the Year in 1987 by that same organization. Virgil, along with wife, Bettie, and sons, Randy and Warren, helped to establish Cork Liquors; the family business opened its first store in 1982. Virgil was also a past member of the Columbus Rotary Club and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a former member of Harrison Lake Country Club, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia Club. Virgil was an active and lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church Clifty. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1946. Mr. Scheidt was born September 23, 1928, in Bartholomew County, the son of Harry and Mildred Armuth Scheidt. He married the love of his life, Bettie L. Todd on February 20, 1949, in Columbus. She survives. Along with wife Bettie, survivors include sons, Don R. ?Randy? (Jill) Scheidt and Warren R. (Molly) Scheidt; daughters, Deborah D. (Ken) Hollis of Chapel Hill, NC, and Christie C. (Hank) Rassel of Greenwood; grandchildren, Mathew Hollis of New York, NY, Leslie (Kris) Weiby of Chanhassen, MN, Travis (Sarah) Scheidt of Columbus, Zachary Hollis of Chapel Hill, NC, Allison Scheidt of Columbus, Katie Scheidt of Fairfax, VA, Todd Scheidt of Bloomington, IN, Emily Scheidt of Columbus, and Nicholas, Olivia, and Madeleine Rassel of Greenwood; a great-grandson, Harrison Scheidt of Columbus; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Virgil was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Nathan Don Scheidt on May 3, 2008. SERVICES: FUNERAL - will be conducted Thursday, October 6, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church Clifty with Pastor Doug Bauman officiating. CALLING - will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 5, at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home, 3855 25th St., Columbus, and from 10:30 a.m. until service time at the church on Thursday. BURIAL - will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church Clifty Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hospice of South Central Indiana or the donor?s choice of charities.

Virgil Scheidt

September 23, 1928 - October 2, 2011