Alva Ray Schmidt Jr.

Alva Ray Schmidt, Jr., 69, of Beaufort, died October 24, 2022, at his residence. He valiantly fought stage four kidney cancer for the last four years.

Alva was born March 3, 1953, in Philadelphia, the son of Alva Ray Schmidt, Sr. and Ruth Minter Schmidt. “Owl” obtained his Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from Temple University in 1974. He worked for the University of Delaware and Duke Marine Lab in his early career then began a long tenure with the Division of Marine Fisheries where he retired as the Section Chief of Information Technology in 2020. In 1988, he married Diane Lucille Mason. They celebrated 34 years of marriage earlier this month.

Surviving, in addition to his wife Diane Mason, are his mother, Ruth; mother-in-law, Clara Mason of Stacy, NC; his daughters, Reba Lewis and her husband Jordan Lewis of Gloucester, and Taylor Callahan and her husband Brenden Callahan of Kernersville; three grandchildren, Clara Callahan, Jared Lewis, and Caiden Ray Callahan; one sister, Sally Bassill and her husband William of Broomall, PA; and niece and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Those who wish to remember Al in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Raab Cancer Clinic, 3500 Arendell St, Morehead City, NC 28557 or Atrium Baptist Health Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.