Philip Edward (Ed) Schmeltzer

Longtime Worland resident Philip Edward “Ed” Schmeltzer died peacefully at his home Saturday September 14, 2002 following a brief illness.

He was born on October 29, 1922 in Waubay, SD to John Edward and Mary Della (Englert) Schmeltzer. He was raised in Bowman, ND and Milbank, SD where he learned to work along side his father on the farm.

As a young man he served in the CCC camp in Custer, SD while Mt. Rushmore was being constructed. During WWII he willingly served his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Pamina, an amphibious cargo ship, in the Pacific Theater. He received his battle star in Okinawa and was present in Tokyo Bay when the surrender papers were being signed aboard the USS Missouri. He was aboard his ship when it was both commissioned and decommissioned. He was honorably discharged on May 23, 1946.

Upon arriving in Worland he was employed by John Velte as a painter and in 1952 started his own successful painting business, Schmeltzer Painting and Decorating, which he operated for more than 30 years. His oldest son Phil owns and continues to operate it today.

On January 14, 1948 he married his wife Mary Jane Murdoch at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Worland and they have been together for 54 years. He enjoyed life, their home and their ranch “The ‘Ol Circle Eight” at Neiber, WY, nine miles south of Worland.

He served as a Washakie County Commissioner for 12 years where he was always concerned with the improvement and growth of Worland and Washakie County. He was a devoted member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church where he was one of the first lay people to serve as a Eucharistic Minister and was also a Trustee. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW, the Elks and the Knights of Columbus.

He enjoyed raising draft horses, and along with his wife, traveled with the Wyoming Centennial Wagon Train from it’s beginning in Casper to the Murdoch lambing pens west of Worland. They traveled in a covered wagon he restored himself. He could be found tending his band of sheep or putting up his hay. He enjoyed bowling, golf, vacationing in his RV and a good hand of cards.

He leaves a legacy to his children and grandchildren to be faithful to the Lord, to be loyal and serving to their country and to feel joy in being at the end of an honest day’s work. He taught them to be good parents by leading by example and was fond of saying that, “There’s not a dog in the bunch!”

He is survived by and will be sadly missed by his wife, Mary Jane, of the family home, his five sons; Philip (Rhonda), Thomas (Vicki), and Christopher (Lauree) all of Worland, John (Beth) of Helena, MT and Joseph (Elaine) of Orland, CA and his four daughters, Janet (George) Barp of Kimball, NE, Margaret (Greg) Lungren, Nancy Martinson and Frances (Scott) Heessel all of Worland. Thirty adoring grandchildren and three great granddaughters also survive him. He also leaves his brother Charles Schmeltzer of Spokane, WA and his two sisters, Ione (William) Craft of Greybull, and Kathleen (Terrill) Gibbons of Worland. His granddaughter, Diana Renee Schmeltzer preceded him in death.