Bernard F. "Ben" Schmidt, age 83, of Butler, passed away Monday, October 8, 2018, at his residence.

Born in Pittsburgh on September 15, 1935, he was a son of the late Bernard A. and Helen Kozak Schmidt.

Ben excelled at athletics. He was inducted into the Baldwin High School Hall of Fame. He received the Jim Thorpe All-American Award for track and field by the City of Pittsburgh in 1953. He was the first freshman to play and letter in varsity football at Saint Francis College in Loretto, PA. He went on to graduate from Virginia Tech University, where he played football. In 1957, he was elected all-state guard for the state of Virginia.

After working as a teacher for the Roanoke School District in Virginia, Ben and his family moved to Butler, where he was employed as a fire underwriter at Nationwide Insurance and, later, at the American Hardware/Servistar distribution facility.

He was a member of Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church.

Ben belonged to the Butler Elks, the YMCA, and the Early Birds Toastmasters Club. He was also a life member of Aubrey's Golf Course. He coached Little League baseball for 23 years, and he also coached Midget Football and a girls' softball team.

Ben was a decent human being, a kind and gentle soul who had respect for all people, especially his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Marion Jostedt Schmidt, whom he married January 28, 1955; six children, Katherine Williams and her husband, John, of Pittsburgh, Michael Schmidt and his wife, Cindy, of Butler, Karen Ramsey and her husband, Kevin, of North Versailles, PA, Rebecca Wellman and her husband, Robert, of Butler, David Schmidt and his wife, Kimberly, of Butler, and Linda Lauther and her husband, Edgar, of Butler; two brothers, Edward Schmidt, of Pittsburgh, and Charles Schmidt and his wife, Jerilyn, of Pittsburgh; 15 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Friends will be received in the Martin Funeral Home, Inc., 429 Center Avenue, Butler, on Wednesday from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. from Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St., Butler.

Burial will take place in Saint Michael's Cemetery.

The Women's Council of Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church will meet at the church at 9:35 a.m. Thursday to recite the rosary.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the charity of the donor's choice.