Eugene Lawrence Schaich, known to his church friends as Larry and work friends as Gene, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, March 25, 2021 at his home in Lawrenceburg. He was 85.
Larry was born August 13, 1935 in Dearborn County, Indiana to the late Chester and Ruth (Schoenling) Schaich. He was a 1953 graduate of Harrison High School, where he held a state title in pole vaulting for track and field for many years. After high school, Larry married Lois Otto on January 22, 1955. He began work at National Lead of Ohio at Fernald for 17 years. While working at Fernald, Larry attended night classes at the University of Cincinnati in Metallurgy. Larry then worked as a resident manager for Fox Paper Co. in Lockland, retiring under the Erving ownership. After retirement, together with his wife, Lois, they bought Memories Photography Studio in Harrison, capturing many special moments for 14 years.
Larry grew up attending St. John’s United Church of Christ with his family. He attended there until he and Lois were married at the First Christian Church (Legacy Christian Church), where he became an active member. He sang in the church choir, served as a Sunday School teacher and greeter, and went on many mission trips including Costa Rica and Katrina relief. He and Lois lead a bible study for over 20 years together.
Larry was a country man. He loved and appreciated the outdoors more than anyone could put into words, enjoying the trees, the animals, and the birds he would feed. His latest project included trying to figure out how God made the trees and how they worked the way they did. Larry looked forward to his walks on the 40-acre family farm, which was passed down 4 generations. He loved wood carving, making many different birds and religious pieces. Larry and Lois enjoyed traveling. Their trips included the Great Smokey Mountains for over 40 years camping with the kids, visiting friends in the Carolinas, Florida many times, Flagstaff, Arizona for their 50th wedding anniversary, and Niagara Falls.
Larry was very proud of his family and will be missed dearly. Those left behind to carry on his legacy, include his wife of 66 years, Lois M. Schaich; five children: Debora (Donald) Stutz of Lawrenceburg, Brenda (Steve) Williams of Lawrenceburg, Pamela (Barrie) Fleetwood of St. Joe, IN, Merri Carol (John) Patterson of Guilford, and Samuel (Susan) Schaich of Lawrenceburg; grandchildren: Jodie (Ron) Weneck, Jenn (Eddy) Pybus, Diane (Greg) Vollner, Denise (Zak) Kirchgassner, Daniel (Bethany) Stutz, David (Lisa) Stutz, Lauren (Rob) Helms, Carolynn Fleetwood (Kyle), Megan Patterson (Derek), Jeremy Patterson, Hannah Schaich (Tony), Alexandra Schaich (Kevin), and Jordyn Schaich; and great grandchildren: Anna and Ethan Weneck, Cole, Wesley, Luke, and Ashton Pybus, Gage and Cora Vollner, Grace, Scarlett and Baby K Kirchgassner, Madelyn, Allissa, Kaden, and Parker Stutz, Isabelle and Lincoln Stutz, Sophia, Tessa, and Jack Helms. In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by his brother: Donald Schaich.
Family and friends are welcome on Saturday, March 27, 2021 from 10 am until the time of his funeral service at 12 pm at Legacy Christian Church, 216 N. Sycamore Street, Harrison, OH 45030. Pastor Mark Garrett will officiate and burial will follow in Glen Haven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Legacy Christian Church and mailed directly to church.
Care for Larry and his family has been provided by Penwell Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, Ohio, where his granddaughter, Jordyn, is a funeral director.
Appropriate ways to express sympathy may be done by leaving an online condolence on Larry’s obituary at www.PenwellTurner.com or by leaving a comment on his post on the funeral home’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/PenwellFuneral.