Hildred I. Schoch

Hildred I. Schoch, 72, beloved wife, mother and grandmother entered into eternal joy on Sunday, June 24, 2012. She was born September 9, 1939 in Boston, MA of Salvation Army Officer (minister) parents Harold and Hildred Southwood. She graduated from Kearny, NJ High School and completed two years of higher education at the Jersey State College prior to entering The Salvation Army Training School in September 1959 as a Cadet. She was commissioned and ordained a minister in The Salvation Army in June 1960 with the rank of Lieutenant. Lieutenant Southwood was married to Captain Carl Schoch on June 24, 1961. They were assigned as Corps Officers (parish ministers) in Glen Falls, New York. Three sons, Clifton B., Kevin B., and Keith B. were born during their tenure as pastors. The Schochs were transferred to Corps responsibilities in Rome, New York and subsequently were appointed as Youth Leaders in Northeast Ohio and in metropolitan New York. Hildred was Director of Sunbeam and Girl Guard (scouting) Programs, Corps Cadets (youth leadership development) Program and served as co-director of Salvation Army summer residence camps for children and youth. Subsequent appointments were in adult program administration and management in Northern New England, Western Pennsylvania and as Director of Women’s Services in New Jersey. In June 1987 she was appointed as Director of Overseas Child Sponsorship Bureau of the northeast regional office of The Salvation Army. Her primary responsibility was development of funds to support Salvation Army crèches, nurseries, residential homes, shelters and schools in developing nations. During the fourteen years of her leadership, the program increased from one hundred sponsors to one thousand five hundred sponsors providing financial support for approximately one thousand children and two hundred institutions daily. Her appointment as Associate Divisional Commander (assistant chief operating officer) of the Greater New York Division positioned her to discharge a major administrative role in the Army’s response to the terrorist destruction of the World Trade Towers. Surviving are her husband, Carl, of fifty-one years, son Major Kevin B. (Lori) Schoch, son Keith B. (Lisa) Schoch and grandchildren Kevin II (Allyson), Nicholas, Jordan, Alyssa, Kyle, Kayli, Casey, and Mackenzie and a great grandson, Joshua. A Celebration of Life is scheduled at The Salvation Army, 131 South Queen Street, Lancaster at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2012. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Salvation Army, Overseas Child Sponsorship Bureau, Post Office Box C-635, West Nyack, NY 10994. Donations should be identified for the Hildred Schoch Endowment Fund.

Hildred I. Schoch

June 25, 2012