Robert L. Schultz

Robert L. Schultz, 82, of Denham Springs, La., died at 12:15 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at his home with his family. Bob was born June 1, 1923, in Rich Hill, Mo., to Goldie and Lloyd Schultz. He died after a long struggle with rheumatoid arthritis.

He was a World War II veteran, serving as a truck driver with the quartermaster unit of the U.S. Army's 87 Quartermaster Company in Europe. He was a pipeline welder, working on union jobs across the U.S. from Washington State to New York. Several companies relied on his craftsmanship, often assigning him to difficult and high-risk welding tasks. Starting in 1972, he was a welding inspector form Jacobs Engineering at Dow Chemical in Plaquemine, La., and he supervised construction of piplines across the Atchafalaya Basin for Dow in the early '70s.

After retiring in 1987, he enjoyed woodworking, crafting stained glass, traveling and fishing at Leeville, La. He was a member of Pipefitters Local Union No. 198 of Baton Rouge, La., and the Pipeline Welders Local Union No. 798 of Tulsa, Okla. He was a Mason and a member of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana F & AM, and the Ellis Facundus American Legion Post.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Josephine Schultz; two daughters, Caren Amacker and Carol Spruell and her husband Rudi Spruell, all of Baton Rouge; a son, Bruce Schultz and his wife, Loretta Schultz; four grandchildren Kyle Amacker, Hillary Spruell, Elizabeth Spruell and Robert Spruell; and step-grandchildren, John Gott and Beverly Gott, both of DeRidder, La., two nephews, Jerry Beisley and Kerry Beisley, both of Independence, Mo.; and longtime friends Jesse Davis and Army buddy Marvin Snyder. He was preceded in death by his sister Lucille Beisley and his parents.

Services will be at noon Monday at First United Methodist Church, 319 Mattie St., Denham Springs, La. Visitation will be 5-9 p.m., Sunday, and 10 a.m., Monday until the services. Masonic rites will be conducted at 7 p. m., Sunday.

Pallbearers will be Billy Amacker, James Barnett, John Murray, Dan Gully, John Gott and John Yarwood. Honorary pallbearers will be Otis Crawford and Jesse Davis. The family expresses its appreciation to Amedisys Hospice and nurse Rhonda Colletta and aides Mary and Dawn for their outstanding care.

Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to Livingston Parish Cancer Socicty, P.0. Box 463, Denham Springs, LA 70727; Catholic Community Services, P. 0. Box 1668, Baton Rouge, LA 70821; or the First United Methodist Church, 319 Mattie St., Denham Springs, LA 70726.