Eric Schmidt

Captain Eric "Scorch" Schmidt passed away on February 1, 2011. He was born in

Sleepy Eye, Minnesota on December 14, 1974. He grew up in Windom,

Minnesota. Following high school, Eric enlisted in the Air Force and became an

AC-130 aerial gunner for six years. He attended the University of Tennessee in

Knoxville, Tennessee, graduating in 2003 with an Industrial Engineering degree.

Commissioned through ROTC, Eric began pilot training at

Whiting Field near Pensacola, Florida, flying T-34s, and finished at Vance AFB in

Enid, Oklahoma where he flew T-38s. While stationed at Vance, Eric met Laura

Ediger, and they married on September 22, 2007. The two were stationed in Minot

AFB, North Dakota from September 2007 through September 2009 as part of the

23d Bomb Squadron flying B-52s. Eric deployed as part of Pacific Command's

Continuous Bomber Presence mission with Minot's Bomber

Barons to Guam in 2009. In September 2009, Eric and his family moved to

Barksdale AFB, Louisiana joining the 96th Bomb Squadron. Following a year with

the Red Devils, Eric changed squadrons to the Posse, the 2d Operations

Support Squadron.

The Lord blessed Eric and Laura with a healthy baby boy named Landon Eric on

October 11, 2010.

Eric was a source of inspiration and strength to everyone who crossed his path.

He was a pilot, a leader, a brother, a friend, a son, and a father. He will be dearly

missed by his wife Laura, son Landon, his parents Bill and Rita Schmidt, brother,

Gregg, Martha, Will, and Micah, and by a host of family and friends. He was a man

who lived devoted to his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Eric has been a

part of Open Door Bible Church since coming to Bossier City.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday February 4, 2011 at the Hill

Crest Funeral Home, 601 Hwy 80, Haughton, LA. Funeral services will be

conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 5, 2011 at Barksdale Air Force Base

Chapel 2. Interment will Monday, February 7, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. in the Enid

Mennonite Brethren Cemetery in Enid, OK. There will be a memorial service at

6:00 pm, Monday at the Enid Mennonite Brethren Church. Rev Garvie Schmidt will

officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.