Charles LaRue Sholder1,2,3 
M, (12 June 1950 - 17 November 2016)
- Relationship
- 8th great-grandson of Martin Scholderer
Charles LaRue Sholder was born on 12 June 1950 at Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.1 He was the son of LaRue Edward Sholder and Carmela M. Cuoco.2 Charles LaRue Sholder married, at age 25, Carol A. Phillips, daughter of Frank Phillips and Shirley May Betts, on Saturday, 24 January 1976 at Saint Boniface Catholic Church, Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.1,2 Charles LaRue Sholder and Carol A. Phillips were divorced in December 2009.4 Charles LaRue Sholder died on 17 November 2016 at Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, at age 66 years, 5 months and 5 days.5
Charles LaRue Sholder also went by the name of Chuck. He was a furniture craftsman for Schneidig Incorporated between 1974 and 2004.6 The following article about Charles LaRue was published on 29 August 2004 in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:
As Plant Closes, Longtime Schnadig Workers
David Thompson Sun-Gazette Staff
The last 16 months have been tough for Connie Brungard, 43, of Montoursville. In April 2003 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In July she learned that she and her fiance Jeff Stahl would lose the jobs they’ve had for nearly 20 years at Schnadig Corp., Montoursville. Brungard works in the scheduling department and Stahl is an upholsterer.
Company officials announced they would close the plant to consolidate its operations at other facilities. The official closing is set for tomorrow.
The couple, who bought a home in Montoursville in 2002, postponed wedding plans after Brungard endured a mastectomy and chemotherapy. She returned to her job in October and is cancer-free. "I took it hard last year," Brungard said recently. "I had my son (Corey, 16) — he was scared. So I said, 'next year is going to be a better year.' " "And then we lost our jobs," Stahl, 39, said.
"I bawled," Brungard said of her initial reaction to the announcement. She said she is worried about finding another job and getting affordable health care coverage. "It’s going to be hard finding an office job making what I make now," she said. "And are they going to give me a hard time to cover me?" Stahl, on the other hand, is upbeat about his prospects and said he just wants to get the whole thing over with. "I’m not really worried," he said. "I’m just a positive person. I want to move on." Brungard and Stahl’s reaction to Schnadig’s closing fell on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. Here is what other workers had to say about it.
Craig Kunkle, 39
When Craig Kunkle, 39, came home from work and told his wife Joyce that he was about to lose his job, he found out who was in his corner.
"A couple days later I came home for lunch and asked my wife where the kids were. She said, 'look outside.' They were out there with a lemonade stand, said the father of five. "I asked my 11-year-old (Hunter) why he did it and he said, 'because you’re losing your job.' " "That breaks my heart," Kunkle said. "I get choked up thinking about it."
A deeply religious man, Kunkle said he isn’t worried about his future. "This is a shame, but the Lord says he will provide for us, so I can’t worry about it," he said. Kunkle said the company has played a big part in his life since he was a child. His father Don worked there for 47 years.
Kunkle said he hopes to find work close to home. He’s unwilling to move because he is involved with his church and doesn’t want to move away from the rest of his family. He said that even though the future is uncertain, he knows there are people much worse off than he is. Plus, he has his kids behind him, ready to go to work.
Kunkle said Americans need to set their priorities straight if things are going to improve. "You can make it on so much less, but Americans always want the newest of everything," he said. "The American culture is want, want, want." "The Lord hasn’t let me down yet," he said. "My priority is the Lord and bringing up my kids in a godly manner."
Lonnie Shultz, 52
Lonnie Shultz, 52, of Muncy, has worked at Schnadig for 32 years. He started out in the mill room, worked as a skyline operator taking furniture on and off storage shelves. After that, he worked his way to supervisor. His home is paid off and his kids are grown. Shultz admits he’s a little worried about what the future holds, but still managed to talk about his prospects with a touch of humor.
"I told my wife I’m gonna be a crash-test dummy," Shultz said. "No," he said, "I’m just going to lean back a little bit, absorb all this and figure out what I’m going to do." Schultz said he thought he’d retire from the company but doesn’t blame Schnadig for closing the plant. "If I were in their shoes, I’d be doing the same thing," he said. "I don’t blame the company, no."
"I’ve enjoyed myself since I’ve been here," he said. "But times have changed — for the worse." He said he’d like to get another supervisor job, possibly in the food production industry. "Everybody’s got to eat," he said.
James Seidel, 42
Upholstery department supervisor James Seidel, 42, of Unityville, said he is worried about getting another job. His children are grown but he still has 12 years before his house is paid off. Luckily, his wife Sheila, who also worked at Schnadig, was recently hired at a local nursing home. "I was relieved when Sheila got a job," he said.
It was hard to concentrate on looking for a job while still working at the plant, he said. Company officials gave employees 60 days notice. "I’ll probably really start pounding the pavement now," he said. "It’s hard to be aggressive when you’re still working here." Seidel said he has considered a state retraining program but is concerned there are strings attached to the program that would require him take a job he’s not suited for.
Robert E. Reynolds Jr., 54
Robert E. Reynolds Jr. worked for more than 36 years at the plant. He began working there the day after he graduated from high school. It’s the only full-time job he’s ever had. He counts his father, son, two uncles, a brother, sister-in-law, a nephew and two cousins among family members who have worked at the plant at one time or another. That’s pretty common, he said. "It seems everybody who worked here had family who worked here," he said.
Reynolds blames foreign competition for the plant’s demise, but said greed on the part of family members who took over the company after founder Lawrence Schnadig died in 1997 played a part as well. He said he’s concerned about being able to get health benefits and is worried that, at his age, he might be unemployable. "When am I going to get a job? Truthfully? I’d rather have a guy that can work for me for 20 years than someone who can only work for five (years)," he said. "That’s not (age) discrimination. That’s the process of elimination."
Chuck Sholder, 54
Frame assembler Chuck Sholder, 54, of Williamsport, said the plant closing caught him by surprise. "I was kind of shocked. I didn’t expect it," the 30-year veteran said. "We’ve gone through that before when business dropped, but then picked up again. This time it didn't. I thought it was just another lull in the industry."
Sholder said his years at the plant were good. He learn a lot and developed close friendships. "It was definitely a learning experience because I’ve done several jobs," he said. "For over 30 years I paid my bills, learned to do different things and met new people. We kind of get along together like a family."
Sholder said the government needs to intervene to keep manufacturing jobs from going to foreign countries. "I wish the government would do something to keep jobs in America. Not just my job, but all the people who are losing their jobs to foreign manufacturing," he said. "It's kind of scary," Sholder said of his future. "You don’t know where the road is really going to lead you."6
Carmela M. Cuoco's obituary on 17 June 2006 Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, listed Charles LaRue as her son.2 His obituary was published on 19 November 2016 Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. His obituary stated:
Charles LaRue Sholder, 66, of Pinecrest Dr., Williamsport, passed away at his home on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016.
Born in Williamsport, on June 12, 1950, the son of LaRue Edward and Carmela (Cuoco) Sholder.
Chuck was a U.S. Veteran where he served in the U.S. Navy.
He was a member of and attended First Southern Baptist Church where he was a long time deacon and sang in the First Light Trio.
Chuck was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hike, hunt and fish.
Chuck is survived by his wife Lori Sholder, of Williamsport; his son, Christopher (Kathy) Sholder, of Williamsport; step daughter, Jenni L. (Martin) Golder, of New Columbia and step son, Drew Tyler Reedy, of Milton. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Autumn Rayn Paternostro, of Williamsport and Isabella Marie Sholder,of Williamsport; two step grandchildren, Tyler Kyle Barlet, of Turbotville and Trace Paul Barlet, of New Columbia; and his brother and sister, Lewis Sholder, of Williamsport and Theresa Haswell, of N.C.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Shane Eugene Betts, and step son, Joshua Douglas.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of New Life, 8700 Buffalo Road, Mifflinburg, PA 17844, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, with Pastor Butch Woolsey and Rev. Kevin Hunt officiating.
Contributions may be made to the Parkinsons Foundation, 200 SE First St. Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Charles M. Noll Funeral Home, 1 E. Central Ave., South Williamsport, PA 17702.
www.charlesmnollfuneralhome.com.5
Charles LaRue Sholder also went by the name of Chuck. He was a furniture craftsman for Schneidig Incorporated between 1974 and 2004.6 The following article about Charles LaRue was published on 29 August 2004 in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:
As Plant Closes, Longtime Schnadig Workers
David Thompson Sun-Gazette Staff
The last 16 months have been tough for Connie Brungard, 43, of Montoursville. In April 2003 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In July she learned that she and her fiance Jeff Stahl would lose the jobs they’ve had for nearly 20 years at Schnadig Corp., Montoursville. Brungard works in the scheduling department and Stahl is an upholsterer.
Company officials announced they would close the plant to consolidate its operations at other facilities. The official closing is set for tomorrow.
The couple, who bought a home in Montoursville in 2002, postponed wedding plans after Brungard endured a mastectomy and chemotherapy. She returned to her job in October and is cancer-free. "I took it hard last year," Brungard said recently. "I had my son (Corey, 16) — he was scared. So I said, 'next year is going to be a better year.' " "And then we lost our jobs," Stahl, 39, said.
"I bawled," Brungard said of her initial reaction to the announcement. She said she is worried about finding another job and getting affordable health care coverage. "It’s going to be hard finding an office job making what I make now," she said. "And are they going to give me a hard time to cover me?" Stahl, on the other hand, is upbeat about his prospects and said he just wants to get the whole thing over with. "I’m not really worried," he said. "I’m just a positive person. I want to move on." Brungard and Stahl’s reaction to Schnadig’s closing fell on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. Here is what other workers had to say about it.
Craig Kunkle, 39
When Craig Kunkle, 39, came home from work and told his wife Joyce that he was about to lose his job, he found out who was in his corner.
"A couple days later I came home for lunch and asked my wife where the kids were. She said, 'look outside.' They were out there with a lemonade stand, said the father of five. "I asked my 11-year-old (Hunter) why he did it and he said, 'because you’re losing your job.' " "That breaks my heart," Kunkle said. "I get choked up thinking about it."
A deeply religious man, Kunkle said he isn’t worried about his future. "This is a shame, but the Lord says he will provide for us, so I can’t worry about it," he said. Kunkle said the company has played a big part in his life since he was a child. His father Don worked there for 47 years.
Kunkle said he hopes to find work close to home. He’s unwilling to move because he is involved with his church and doesn’t want to move away from the rest of his family. He said that even though the future is uncertain, he knows there are people much worse off than he is. Plus, he has his kids behind him, ready to go to work.
Kunkle said Americans need to set their priorities straight if things are going to improve. "You can make it on so much less, but Americans always want the newest of everything," he said. "The American culture is want, want, want." "The Lord hasn’t let me down yet," he said. "My priority is the Lord and bringing up my kids in a godly manner."
Lonnie Shultz, 52
Lonnie Shultz, 52, of Muncy, has worked at Schnadig for 32 years. He started out in the mill room, worked as a skyline operator taking furniture on and off storage shelves. After that, he worked his way to supervisor. His home is paid off and his kids are grown. Shultz admits he’s a little worried about what the future holds, but still managed to talk about his prospects with a touch of humor.
"I told my wife I’m gonna be a crash-test dummy," Shultz said. "No," he said, "I’m just going to lean back a little bit, absorb all this and figure out what I’m going to do." Schultz said he thought he’d retire from the company but doesn’t blame Schnadig for closing the plant. "If I were in their shoes, I’d be doing the same thing," he said. "I don’t blame the company, no."
"I’ve enjoyed myself since I’ve been here," he said. "But times have changed — for the worse." He said he’d like to get another supervisor job, possibly in the food production industry. "Everybody’s got to eat," he said.
James Seidel, 42
Upholstery department supervisor James Seidel, 42, of Unityville, said he is worried about getting another job. His children are grown but he still has 12 years before his house is paid off. Luckily, his wife Sheila, who also worked at Schnadig, was recently hired at a local nursing home. "I was relieved when Sheila got a job," he said.
It was hard to concentrate on looking for a job while still working at the plant, he said. Company officials gave employees 60 days notice. "I’ll probably really start pounding the pavement now," he said. "It’s hard to be aggressive when you’re still working here." Seidel said he has considered a state retraining program but is concerned there are strings attached to the program that would require him take a job he’s not suited for.
Robert E. Reynolds Jr., 54
Robert E. Reynolds Jr. worked for more than 36 years at the plant. He began working there the day after he graduated from high school. It’s the only full-time job he’s ever had. He counts his father, son, two uncles, a brother, sister-in-law, a nephew and two cousins among family members who have worked at the plant at one time or another. That’s pretty common, he said. "It seems everybody who worked here had family who worked here," he said.
Reynolds blames foreign competition for the plant’s demise, but said greed on the part of family members who took over the company after founder Lawrence Schnadig died in 1997 played a part as well. He said he’s concerned about being able to get health benefits and is worried that, at his age, he might be unemployable. "When am I going to get a job? Truthfully? I’d rather have a guy that can work for me for 20 years than someone who can only work for five (years)," he said. "That’s not (age) discrimination. That’s the process of elimination."
Chuck Sholder, 54
Frame assembler Chuck Sholder, 54, of Williamsport, said the plant closing caught him by surprise. "I was kind of shocked. I didn’t expect it," the 30-year veteran said. "We’ve gone through that before when business dropped, but then picked up again. This time it didn't. I thought it was just another lull in the industry."
Sholder said his years at the plant were good. He learn a lot and developed close friendships. "It was definitely a learning experience because I’ve done several jobs," he said. "For over 30 years I paid my bills, learned to do different things and met new people. We kind of get along together like a family."
Sholder said the government needs to intervene to keep manufacturing jobs from going to foreign countries. "I wish the government would do something to keep jobs in America. Not just my job, but all the people who are losing their jobs to foreign manufacturing," he said. "It's kind of scary," Sholder said of his future. "You don’t know where the road is really going to lead you."6
Carmela M. Cuoco's obituary on 17 June 2006 Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, listed Charles LaRue as her son.2 His obituary was published on 19 November 2016 Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. His obituary stated:
Charles LaRue Sholder, 66, of Pinecrest Dr., Williamsport, passed away at his home on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016.
Born in Williamsport, on June 12, 1950, the son of LaRue Edward and Carmela (Cuoco) Sholder.
Chuck was a U.S. Veteran where he served in the U.S. Navy.
He was a member of and attended First Southern Baptist Church where he was a long time deacon and sang in the First Light Trio.
Chuck was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hike, hunt and fish.
Chuck is survived by his wife Lori Sholder, of Williamsport; his son, Christopher (Kathy) Sholder, of Williamsport; step daughter, Jenni L. (Martin) Golder, of New Columbia and step son, Drew Tyler Reedy, of Milton. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Autumn Rayn Paternostro, of Williamsport and Isabella Marie Sholder,of Williamsport; two step grandchildren, Tyler Kyle Barlet, of Turbotville and Trace Paul Barlet, of New Columbia; and his brother and sister, Lewis Sholder, of Williamsport and Theresa Haswell, of N.C.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Shane Eugene Betts, and step son, Joshua Douglas.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of New Life, 8700 Buffalo Road, Mifflinburg, PA 17844, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, with Pastor Butch Woolsey and Rev. Kevin Hunt officiating.
Contributions may be made to the Parkinsons Foundation, 200 SE First St. Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Charles M. Noll Funeral Home, 1 E. Central Ave., South Williamsport, PA 17702.
www.charlesmnollfuneralhome.com.5
Child of Charles LaRue Sholder and Carol A. Phillips
Last Edited=25 Jun 2017
Citations
- [S45] Theresa (Sholder) Haswell, "Family Group Sheets (Charles William Sholder and Ida Amelia Lorson)," supplied 29 November 2000 ([address for private use,] Canton, North Carolina; USA).
- [S827] Mrs. Carmela M. Sholder obituary, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 17 June 2006. Original obituary available in print or online for 30 days from publication at: http://www.sungazette.com/obituaries/sections.asp. Kevin Leonard Sholder, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
- [S1523] Scott-Sholder wedding announcement, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 6 January 2008. Original wedding announcement available in print or online for 90 days from publication at: http://www.sungazette.com/page/category.detail/nav/…. Kevin Leonard Sholder, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
- [S2276] Charles L. Sholder, Williamsport, Pennsylvania [e-address for private use,] to Kevin L. Sholder, e-mail, 16 April 2011, "Status of Charles L. Sholder and Carol A. Sholder," Sholder Research Files; privately held by Kevin Leonard Sholder, [(e-address) & street address for private use),] Dayton, Ohio, USA.
- [S2468] "Charles LaRue Sholder obituary," Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 19 Nvoember 2016, online archives (http://www.sungazette.com/uncategorized/2016/11/… : accessed 25 June 2017). Kevin Leonard Sholder, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
- [S839] David Thompson, As Plant Closes, Longtime Schnadig Workers, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 252 W. Fourth Street, Williamsport, Pennsylvania; (570) 326-1551, 29 August 2004. Kevin Leonard Sholder, Dayton, Ohio, USA.