Robert E. Schnar

Robert E. Schnar, age 95, of Marion, passed away Friday, October 23, 2015 at Marion General Hospital.

Robert was born on April 17, 1920, in Wabash County, Indiana, the son of the late Harry and Minnie Iris (Crist) Schnar. He married Doris (Shillinger) Schnar on November 6, 1943, and she survives.

Robert worked for Marion Community Schools as a teacher and administrator for 37 years until he retired in 1979. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Marion, the Masonic McCulloch Lodge #737, and the Scottish Rite of Fort Wayne, the Marion Lions Club, and was a charter member of the Mississinewa Valley Community Band.

He graduated from Wabash High School and earned degrees in Music Education from Manchester College and Master of Education from Indiana University.

Robert built competitive high school band and orchestra programs at Chester Township (Wabash County), Bremen, Lapaz, and Bluffton, Indiana. He became Principal of Pennville High School in Jay County in 1951 where he oversaw the construction of a major addition including a Field House, Industrial Arts and Music Arts facilities. Moving to Marion in 1955, he taught one year at McCulloch Junior High before his appointment as Principal of Grant School, which, in addition to elementary classrooms, incorporated one of the first programs in Indiana created to serve Special Needs students. In 1960, Robert was appointed Principal of Horace Mann Elementary School, and subsequently Principal concurrently of neighboring Martin Boots Middle School.

Robert loved his family, teaching, music, and travel. Robert and Doris enjoyed taking family trips to historic sites, national parks, ball games, county and state fairs, museums, steam farm engine and threshing events, photography, and of course all of the children's and grandchildren's performances, graduations and weddings. His love of music sustained him throughout his life. He played his last concert with the Mississinewa Community band in the Gas City Park on July 4th 2014.

Robert is survived by one daughter, Jane Ann Long of Richardson, Texas, two sons, Richard T. Schnar (Judy) of Cumming, Georgia and Robert Eugene (Brandy) Schnar of Grayslake, Illinois, seven grandchildren, Michelle (Tom) Shollack, Murphy, Texas, Michael (Esther) Long, Corpus Christi, Texas, Amanda (Melvin) Paniagua, Alexandria, Virginia, James (Ruth) Hyman, Hagerman, Idaho, Jacob Schnar, Chicago, Illinois, Daniel Schnar, Chicago, Illinois, Dakota Schnar, Grayslake, Illinois, and five Great-Grandchildren, Bradley Long, Emily and Nicolas Shollack, Isabelle Long, and Jacob Hyman.

He was also preceded in death by daughter, Betty Friedman of Evanston, Illinois

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday October 27, 2015 at Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 Kem Road, Marion, Indiana. Burial will take place at Gardens of Memory Cemetery Huntington County, Indiana.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 26, 2015, and 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday October 27, in the funeral home prior to funeral services.

Online Condolences may be made at www.ravenchoate.com.