Calvin Tafel Schmidt ’49

Calvin Tafel Schmidt ’49, of Shelbyville, Ky., died May 22, 2010, at his home. He was born Oct. 19, 1927, in Shelbyville. He was a lifelong resident of Shelbyville, the son of Frederick and Helen Tafel Schmidt. He was an alumnus Davidson, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He worked for 45 years at the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Shelbyville, 35 years as president. He cofounded Top Star Vending Co. and founded Stowaway, Shelby County’s first mini-warehouse operation. Schmidt was a longtime leader in the Kentucky Coca-Cola Bottlers Association and of the Kentucky Soft Drink Association. He was a trustee of Burks Branch Baptist Church and a longtime member of the Juniper Hunting and Fishing Club and Shelbyville Rotary. He served his community through service on the boards of the Shelbyville School System, United Way, Boy Scouts, Shelby County Community Theater, and Jewish Hospital. He was instrumental in documenting the history of the Juniper Club and the history of Jeptha’s Knobs and the Clayvillage area, where he had a farm. Schmidt was cofounder of a coffee club which met over many years in local restaurants. Woodworking was his lifelong hobby. He is survived by his wife, Yvonne, 98 Wedgwood Dr., Shelbyville, KY 40065; his daughters, Linda DuBourg (Bill) and Carroll Senior (Dale); son, Greg Batts (Paula); seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean Moore Schmidt, and his brother, Craig R. Schmidt ’43.