Cumberland Times-News

Opinion

January 7, 2013

There may never be another like the late Bill Schoenadel

Please give me the honor, of commenting about some one who just passed from this earth, to a better place.

For those of you who knew Bill Schoenadel (obituary, Jan. 6 Times-News), you already know how unique he was.

He was honest, gruff, loyal, decent, out spoken, an activist who believed in protecting our environment, etc. For those of you, who did not know him, you missed one of the most interesting people possible.

Bill and his wife, Ethel, started out in the mid-1960s in Little Orleans at a place that served as a post office, bar, great country food, deer checking, a place that was hard to find, even if you were lost nearby.

Bill made Little Orleans, and Bill’s Place the center of the universe.

He was literally, yes, literally known by people from all corners of the earth.

That is not an exaggerated statement, as I have met people there from Australia, Germany, Russia, and many other countries.

When you hiked, camped on the canal, rode the Potomac, came to camp In Green Ridge Forest, to hunt, or just find the place by accident, you could get an honest piece of history about this entire region, every, and anything about hunting, fishing, great food, or just enjoying God’s beauty here.

People like Bill, only grace this earth, to share, and teach. He would loan total strangers money, literally never knowing that he would ever get it back.

I came from Annapolis, to here, and met him about 40 years ago. Every now and then, I would be short of money, and even not knowing me, would say to pay him next time, not knowing if there was a next time.

Yes, Bill could be gruff, but it was a facade, under that, was a caring decent, knowledgeable person. I could write a book on his true love for people, nature, history, and many other things, but this paper would have to publish an entire extra edition just to him.

I sincerely believe that another Bill will never come this way again. He is one of the biggest reasons, that when I retired, I retired here.

Bill, enjoy your journey, and your new life, you will be missed by more people than you could ever imagine. God Bless, it was an honor to have been, and will always be a friend.

Tom Darden

Little Orleans

 

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