Romain James Schonhoff, 82, died Tuesday, June 7 at Valley Comfort in Modesto while surrounded by family.
He was a highly decorated Navy and Marine serviceman.
He was born May 9, 1929 in Oakdale and attended Oakdale schools. He received a Navy scholarship to attend Oregon State University. He participated in ROTC throughout high school and college, and graduated in 1951 with a business degree.
Upon graduating, Mr. Schonhoff received his Second Lieutenant Officer’s Commission to the United States Marine Corps. He was on active duty during the Korean Conflict, serving as a Forward Artillery Observer for the G-3-11. He received the following decorations: Navy Occupation Medal, Korean Service Medal with 2 stars, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Marksmanship Medal. He resigned his commission as a First Lieutenant and returned to Oakdale. He continued as an active reservist in the USMC and was later promoted to captain.
Returning from active duty, he served as an IRS agent in Sacramento and Modesto between 1954 and 1959. He began working as a CPA in 1959 in Stockton, and later in Modesto with Bob Fitch, Joe Fulford and Bob Ludlow; later he became a partner in the firm. The firm grew and became known as Withuhn, Atherton, Ludlow, Rostomily, and Schonhoff. It is now Atherton and Associates. Mr. Schonhoff was a partner from 1959 until the early ‘90s.
He was a board member of Christian Berets, Child Evangelism Fellowship, and Calvary Chapel of Modesto. He was a founder and a director of Oak Valley Community Bank. At Oakdale High School he was a trumpeter in the OHS Dance Band. At Oregon State, he enjoyed boxing and was on a competitive pistol marksmanship team. He was a member of the Newman Gun Club, the Knights Ferry Historical Society, the NRA and the Romain Schell Post of the VFW. He formerly was a member of the California Society of CPA’s, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Old Fisherman’s Club, the Oakdale Sportsmen’s Club, and a charter member of the Sportsmen of Stanislaus club.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Janette; his sons and daughter-in-laws Mark and Victoria of Ripon, Mike and Delci of Oakdale, and Clay and Cindy of Ridgecrest; and by his four grandchildren, Romain, Dawson, Graham, and Sarah.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Franklin & Downs Funeral Home, Mc Henry Chapel, 1050 McHenry Avenue, in Modesto, CA.
Graveside services will be held at the Oakdale Citizen’s Cemetery, 701 E. J Street, in Oakdale on Saturday, June 18, at 9 a.m.
A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 11 a.m. at Calvary Chapel of Modesto, 4300 American Avenue (corner of Pelandale Avenue), in Modesto. A lunch reception will immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Calvary Chapel of Modesto (4300 American Avenue, Modesto, CA 95356), Child Evangelism Fellowship (P.O. Box 981, Modesto, CA 95353), Modesto Gospel Mission (1400 Yosemite Blvd., Modesto, CA 95351), Christian Berets, Inc. (1317 Oakdale Road, Modesto, CA 95355), or your favorite charity.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
June 15, 2011
