Tombstone Tuesday-Richard E. & Eileen H. (Swanson) Schumm

Richard & Eileen (Swanson) Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Richard E. and Eileen H. (Swanson) Schumm, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

SCHUMM
Richard E.
1922-1990
Eileen H.
1926-1986

“Richard” Eugene Schumm was born near Rockford on 27 October 1922, the second of three children born to William and Mina (Gunsett) Schumm. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm,  on 12 November 1922 with Carl Gunsett, Amos Schumm, and Edna Dietrich serving as his sponsors.

Richard had three half-siblings, from his father’s marriage to Amanda Reidenbach (1889-1916):

Reinhardt Waldo (1912-1986), married Frieda Oleta Etzler
Edgar F. Schumm (1914-1944)
Amanda Barbara (1916-1965) married Leonard Etzler

The William Schumm family in 1930, when Richard was 7 years old: William, 44; Mina, 42; Reinhart, 17; Edgar, 15 Amanda, 13; Margaret, 10; Richard, 7; and Elmer, 5. [1]

Rockford High School FFA, 1938, Richard Schumm, row 4, 3rd from left. (Ancestry.com yearbooks)

The William Schumm family in 1940, when Richard was 17 years old. They resided on U.S. Route 33, which was formerly US Route 54. The family: LW [William], 55; Mina, 53; Edgar, 25; Margaret, 20; Richard, 17; and Elmer, 15. [2]

By 1942 Richard Schumm lived in Detroit, Michigan, residing at the YMCA at 1601 Clark Avenue and working at Cadillac Motors. In 1942, at age 19, Richard registered for the draft. He was 5’11”, 150 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. [3] During World War II Richard served in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from 8 December 1942-21 December 1945. [4] He was a Sergeant in Company A, 3D Tank Battalion, 3D Marine Division, Fmf (Fleet Marine Forces). [5]

Richard Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio, row 10. (2020 photo by Karen)

After the war Richard Schumm returned to Detroit, where he married Eileen Swanson on 28 June 1947. [6]

“Eileen” Helen Swanson was born in Detroit on 7 August 1926, the daughter of Eddie Elmer and Esther Clara (Lynch) Swanson. [6]

The Eddie Swanson family in 1930 when Eileen was 3 years old: Eddie, 32, Illinois; Esther, 25, Michigan; Eileen, 3, Michigan; and Richard, 1, Michigan. The father Eddie Swanson was a policeman for the city of Detroit. [7]

The Eddie Swanson family in 1940: Eddie, 42; Esther, 36; Eileen, 13; Richard, 11; and Michael, 8. The father Eddie was a policeman and the mother Esther was a corsetiere for a corset manufacturing company. [8]

After their marriage Richard and Eileen Schumm lived in Detroit and in 1992 they lived at 18920 Lindsay Street, Detroit. [9]

Richard and Eileen owned and operated Creative Interiors Workroom and later Custom Workroom in Detroit, a home decorating service. Richard enjoyed singing throughout his life. He was a member of the Rockford High School Boy’s Glee Club as a youth and sang in his church choir as an adult. His love of music is symbolized with the treble clef on their tombstone.

Rockford Boy’s Glee Club, 1938, Richard Schumm, row 2, 2nd from left. (Ancestry.com yearbooks)

Eileen (Swanson) Schumm died 18 August 1986 in Detroit, Michigan. Eileen’s death notice:

SCHUMM
Eileen H. (nee Swanson). Beloved wife of Richard; dear sister of Richard and Michael Swanson and Sandra Schrieter. Visiting at the Haley Funeral Home, 24525 Northwestern Hwy. (Lodge X-way Svc, Dr., S, of 10 Mi. Rd.), Tuesday 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Visiting Wednesday 4 p.m. at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 19400 Evergreen. Interment in Ohio.
[10]

Richard died 25 September 1990 in Van Wert County, Ohio. Richard’s obituary:

SCHUMM
Richard E. Former owner of the Custom Workroom. Formerly of Detroit, died in Van Wert, Ohio, on Sept. 25, 1990. A longtime Detroit businessman, he retired in 1989 due to poor health. Husband of Eileen Swanson Schumm, who preceded him in death in 1986; she started Creative Interiors Workroom, and later joined ownership of the Custom Workroom, supplying leading home decorators in the metro area with custom draperies and home furnishings. Survived by sister, Margaret Shaffer of Van Wert. Mrs. Schumm served in the Marines in WWII. He loved to sing and sang in several church choirs. He was a member of Lola Park Ev. Lutheran Church, Detroit. Services have taken place. Contributions to Continuing Care of Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, or the Lola Park Ev. Lutheran Church, 14750 Kinloch, Detroit MI 48239, appreciated.
[11]

Richard Schumm had the following full siblings:
Margaret Louise (1919-2009), married Charles Shaffer
Elmer Jacob (1924-1963), married Esther Ferne Schmid

Richard and Eileen did not have any children of their own.

[1] 1930 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 1, p.1A, dwelling & family 3, L William Schwinn; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ : viewed 28 Sep 2020).

[2] 1940 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 54-1, p.1A, house visited 3, LW Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/ : viewed 28 Sep 2020).

[3] WWII Draft Registration Cards for Michigan, 10/16/1940-3/31/1947, Records of the Selective Service System, 147, Box 1067, Richard Eugene Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 11 Oct 2020.

[4] U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010, Richard Schumm; on-line database, Ancestry.com.

[5] U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group 24, Richard E Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 11 Oct 2020.

[6] Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952, MI Dept of Community Health, Division of Vital Records & Health Statistics, Film 348, 82 Wayne 384070-387309, Richard Eugene Schumm & Eileen Helen Swanson, 28 Jun 1947; database on-line, Ancestry.com, viewed 11 Oct 2020.

[7] 1930 U.S. Census, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, ED 407, p.59A, dwelling 698, family 8, Eddie Swanson; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ : viewed 11 Oct 2020).

[8] 1940 U.S. Census, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, ED 84-749, p.14A, house visited 52, Eddie Swanson; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/ : viewed 11 Oct 2020). The father Eddie was a policeman.

[9] U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Vol. 1, Voter Registration Lists, Public Record Filings Historical Residential Records, and Other Household Database Listings, Richard E Schumm; on-line database, Ancestry.com.

[10] Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, 19 Aug 1986, p.8B, Eileen H. Schumm death notice; digital image, Newspapers.com.

[11] Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, 30 Sep 1990, p.6C, Richard Schumm obituary; digital image, Newspapers.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.