Bethel Jayne Crumbaker's Obituary
Cultural Beacon and Civic TreasureBethel Jayne Crumbaker SchneebeckJune 13, 1916 Â- May 16, 2004 Humanitarian and Philanthropist, Bethel Jayne Schneebeck died on Sunday evening May 16, after 87 years of devoted service to her family and her community. A Â"Civic TreasureÂ" to the cultural arts and social welfare of Tacoma, Bethel Schneebeck has been part of the founding boards of The Tacoma Symphony, The Pantages Theater, The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, and the Tacoma Youth Symphony among others. Her vision and feeling for the arts has helped make Tacoma a cultural center of the Northwest. Her late husband, Edwin J. Schneebeck contributed the European pipe organ named in her honor at the Kilworth Chapel of The University of Puget Sound. Mrs. Schneebeck sponsored the renovation of the Concert Hall, seven practice rooms and scholarships for the music students and the University, and endowed the Ed Sefarian Scholarship Fund. Dr. Keith Ward of UPS commented, Â"She has been  The Cultural Matriarch of Tacoma for the past 50 years.Â"She has served on the Boards and been a benefactor of The Tacoma Community House, The American Mothers National Board, YMCA, Goodwill Industries, Multicare, and The Municipal League. She served as President of the PTA Presidents Council and Chapter C of PEO. Care has been provided through her efforts for many of the less fortunate, including Shared Housing of Hill Top, giving people shelter, support and encouragement. The Missionary Spirit of both Bethel and Ed Schneebeck led them to India, where, for the past 25 years, they have helped hundreds of children, each year to be educated at the Prakashalea School and also made available medical care for a large agrarian community in the center of India by buying needed equipment for the small medical center and funding mid-wife educational programs. They also financially aided the Leprosarium in Udgir, India. They visited the communities and listened to what the people needed. They provided for Methodist Mission churches and steps for the elders to be built. Wells were dug in very, very poor communities, where others would not venture to go. Bethel Schneebeck was born in Gilmore City, Iowa, and grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was a soloist for years in Methodist Churches where ever she lived. She attended Colorado College as a Latin Scholar and was married to Edwin Schneebeck in 1936. They soon moved west to Klamath Falls, Oregon. In 1946 they moved to Tacoma where they have resided for the past 58 years. They have been part of the corner stone of the history of Tacoma. Bethel Schneebeck is survived by her sister Iris Teague, sons David and Tim Schneebeck, her daughter Judith Schneebeck Bensinger, a foster daughter, Gloria Heemink, 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Tim, her youngest son, became blind after birth. Bethel Schneebeck became a pioneer in the educational possibilities for the blind and other exceptional children. Â"It is not what they have lost, it is what they have left that counts.Â" She founded The Tacoma League for Blind Children. She believed that the blind should live life in a normal society. Through her legislative efforts, blind children where admitted to their neighborhood schools in order to normalize their lives as much as possible. She also helped pioneer the field of dog guides for young people and her son, Tim, was the youngest, at age 9, to work independently with a Pilot dog. Bethel Schneebeck, 87, received many awards and honors in her life-time which include: an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Puget Sound received for her life-long service to the Tacoma community. Â"The Excellence in ArtsÂ" award from the City of Tacoma Arts Commission, 1988 Washington State Mother of the Year, Tacoma Woman of Achievement, District Service Award form Tacoma Public Schools, Meritorious Service Award from Goodwill Industries, The Angel Award from The Tacoma Little Theater, The Municipal League Citizen Award, Tacoma YMCA Service Award, Tacoma Symphony Service Appreciation Award, The Tacoma Community House Recognition of Distinction. She is listed in WhoÂ's Who of American Women. Bethel Schneebeck led a full and fascinating life. Bethel loved cruising the waters of Puget Sound with her family on the Â"ShalimarÂ" and traveling to far away places, most recently to Antarctica and the Artic Circle with her family. Just six years ago she was in Zimbabwe, Africa singing Â"Amazing GraceÂ" with 4000 Africans and the Jubilate Choir. At 80 years old, she traveled to Israel on an Archeological dig sponsored by UPS, shovel in hand, helping to find ancient roadway to the biblical wedding site in Cana of Galilee. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2004 at 2:00 PM at Mason United Methodist Church, 2710 North Madison, Tacoma, Washington, 253-759-3539.Contributions can be made in her honor to The Music Department of the University of Puget Sound, to The Tacoma Youth Symphony or to Mason United Methodist Church. Tacoma Youth Symphony 901 BroadwayTacoma, Washington 98402253-627-2792Mason United Methodist Church 2710 North MadisonTacoma, Washington 98407253-759-3539Department of Music University of Puget Sound1500 North Warner StreetTacoma, Washington, 98406253-879-3700
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