John Q. Schell, Jr.

John Quincy Schell, Jr., 87, of 186 Country Club Road, Asheville, died peacefully on Thursday, November 5, 2009, at Mission Hospital following a short period of illness. He was born in Asheville to the late John Quincy and Nannie Neal Schell and was also preceded in death by a sister, Frances Schell. Educated in Asheville City Schools, he graduated from Lee H. Edwards High School in 1939 and from International Business School in 1951. John enlisted in the Navy Air Force in 1942 and received his flight training at Olathe, KS; Tampa, FL; Athens, GA and Pensacola, FL. He received his pilot's wings and was commissioned as an ensign in 1944. His service during WWII was in the Pacific Theater as a pilot on Liberator reconnaissance planes equipped for photographic missions. The duties of his group involved obtaining photographs preparatory to the invasion of many of the islands including Iwo Jima, the Mariannas and the Philippines. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with two stars. He began his career with the Asheville Citizen-Times as a carrier while a teenager. Except for military service, John was employed by the Citizen-Times continuously until his retirement in 1989. He began his employment in the accounting department and held various positions, including Treasurer and Vice President, until his retirement as General Manager. He was a member of the Institute of Newspaper Controllers and Auditors. Among his many civic activities were the eleven years of service as a member of the Asheville City Board of Education, including a three year term as chairman beginning in 1971. He was a graduate of the first class in the Leadership Asheville program and served on the boards of the Asheville area chapter of the American Red Cross, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County and chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee. John was a member of Crime Stoppers, a director of First Union National Bank, a board member of Western Carolina University and executive director of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. He served two terms as president of the Malvern Hills Community Club. He was a lifelong member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church (formerly First Lutheran) of Asheville, having served in many offices in the church. He was church choir director for forty years, during which, in addition to normal church service functions, the choir participated in special observances throughout the Carolinas. In other musical pursuits, he at times was a member of the UNCA Community Chorus and the WNC Choral Society. John is survived by his wife of 64 years, the former Margaret Roberts; their daughter, Linda Burgin and her husband William of Asheville; two grandchildren, Holly Burgin and Connie Harris Famous; two great-grandchildren, Caroline and Zachary, and two brothers, Robert J. Schell and his wife, Lucy, of Asheville and Edwin C. Schell and his wife, Betty, of Lenoir. A memorial service celebrating the life of John Schell will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, November 15, 2009, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dr. Michael McFarland officiating. Inurnment will follow in the memorial garden at the church. Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School, 51 Wilburn Place, Asheville, NC 28806 or to Autism Speaks at www.autismspeaks.org.