February 20, 1937, to May 4, 2026

Gary “Silver” Schmidt passed away on May 4, 2026, at Bronte Health & Rehab Center, Bronte, Texas, with family and Mario, his beloved Corgi, at his side. He was 89 years old.

Gary was born February 20, 1937, in Kiel, SchleswigHolstein, Germany, near Denmark and the Baltic Sea. He was the son of Felix Johann Ernst Schmidt of Köln and Alice Gertrud Else Behrendt of Kiel. After enduring brutal conditions under the Nazi regime and experiencing the horrors of war-torn Germany during World War II, including starvation, bombing of their home, and continual displacement, the family relocated to Idaho, USA, in 1950. There, Gary learned English, participated in school sports, became an Eagle Scout, and enjoyed skiing, hunting, and fishing, the latter a passion he pursued throughout his life.

Enlisting in the US Air Force on graduation from Idaho Falls High School in 1956, Gary worked as an Electronics Technician installing navigational equipment and repairing airplanes. He followed this with a specialty in Meteorology. Retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant in 1981, he finished his Air Force career as Chief, Weather Station Operations, Bergstrom AFB, Austin.

During his Air Force career, other duty stations included bases and locations in the US, the Arctic Circle (Mould Bay, Prince Patrick Island), Newfoundland, Canada (Harmon AFB), Thailand (Ubon, Royal Thai AB in support of the Vietnam conflict), Libya (Wheelus AFB), Italy (Aviano AFB), Germany (Spangdahlem AFB), and The Netherlands (Camp New Amsterdam). Gary utilized his leave from duty to explore the country and neighboring countries where he was stationed. During these explorations, he participated in ski tournaments in Austria and Switzerland, attended auto and cycling races in Europe (Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans, and the Tour de France), and participated in an elephant tug-of-war contest in Thailand. Gary earned a number of medals and meritorious commendations for his 22 years of service.

On retirement from the Air Force, Gary attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He became a life-long “Longhorn” supporter. Competitive sports, running, and cycling held his interest for over 40 years. Gary completed 46 marathons (14 “First Places” in age group) and competed in hundreds of races (5K and 10 K), duathlons, triathlons, and cycling races, many of which he won. Running and cycling became a passion and a discipline for decades of his life. Gary also enjoyed Davis Mountains Fitness and Training Camp held at Prude Ranch, Fort Davis.

Gary suffered a cycling accident in 2003, breaking his femur and hip, and almost losing his leg. Thanks to the doctors at Shannon Hospital, San Angelo, and specialists at San Antonio Health Science Center, his leg was reconstructed. After a year of self-disciplined and self-designed physical therapy in his home, he was running in competitive races within a year of the accident.

After teaching Earth Science classes at Bedichek Middle School and Bowie High School, Austin, Gary moved to Alpine in 1989 and taught classes at Alpine ISD until the mid-1990s. Gary became interested in creating silver jewelry, primarily learning how to engrave silver and other metals, frequently utilizing regional gemstones in his designs. He studied the art of silver engraving with Johny Weyerts of Alpine. Gary acquired the moniker “Silver,” as many people knew him, from his dear friend and racing competitor, Don Slocomb, who coined the name in honor of Gary’s silver engraving work—“Silver Schmidt = Silversmith!”

Music was a part of Gary that went beyond listening: he was a participant and would become immersed in “conducting” recordings with his baton. He enjoyed symphonic and operatic recordings, and live and streamed performances of his favorite composers. Beethoven topped the list. With his beautiful bass voice, Gary was a member of Big Bend Community Chorale, Alpine.

Having grown up in Germany, Gary was bilingual and generously shared his passion for the German language, culture, and especially music. Gary took on translating the newspapers of German-Americans imprisoned at the US Department of Justice Internment Camp in Crystal City, Texas, for a book being written by Marta Robertson. The two met for several hours a week over many months with Gary explaining the cultural meaning of German-American music-making at the WWII internment camp at Crystal City. The book to which he contributed is under publication.

Together since early 2020, Gary married Alex Allard in 2021 in a small ceremony during the COVID pandemic. Alex had purchased the house across the street from Gary’s with the intent to “retire” to Alpine from Austin. Alex went to “meet the neighbors” one afternoon after the house closing, met Gary, and the rest is history.

Pre-deceased by his parents and younger brother, Robert, Gary is survived by his wife, Alex “Star Bright” (Allard); sister, Evelyn Alice Young (Douglas) of Provo, Utah; brother, Greg Schmidt (Mindy) of Rigby, Idaho; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grandnephews.

Gary’s family and friends extend profound thanks to the exceptional staff of Bronte Health & Rehab Center, Bronte, Texas— big-hearted caregivers too numerous to mention here: heartfelt thanks to you, each and every one. To Interim Hospice of San Angelo: Thank you, Jacqueline and Gary, for holding our hands tightly on this journey. To Nancy and Tim York of San Angelo, a profound thank you for your support and friendship. Appreciation goes to Live Well at Home and its cadre of delightful home caregivers, many of whom were nursing students at Sul Ross State University. Thanks to Big Bend Regional Medical Center Hospital, and the wonderful staff of the Rehab Department in particular, and gratitude to the staff at Senior Life Solutions, BBRMC, who provided mental and emotional support throughout this journey. To the many individuals who visited Gary during his residence in nursing homes—friends from the running community, the St James Episcopal Church community, and the Alpine community, as well as our friends from Germany: You brightened his life!

Donations in Gary’s behalf are welcome: Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz. org; BrightFocus Foundation (Global Alzheimer’s Research), www.brightfocus. org; Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, www.curealz.org.

Gary held great reverence for our Universe, the natural world, and humanity. Gary wishes for his family, friends, and the world: Peace, Freedom, Justice, Human Rights, Equality, and a Safe Environment. Gary loved all of humanity, saw the world as it really was, and was always ready to support individuals in developing their personal goals and encouraged them to achieve their life’s purpose.