Orange County Branch Newsletter

January 2016

In Memorian

Dwight Schroeder

Dwight Clare "Tod", Schroeder, 90, Past-President of ASCE Orange County Branch (1962-1963), entered eternal life on Wednesday, December 30th, 2015, at his home in Santa Ana. A descendant of the pioneer Orange County Schroeder family, he was born on September 30, 1925, in Santa Ana. Mr. Schroeder graduated from Santa Ana High School in 1943 where he was a noted scholar and track athlete. After graduation he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following military service he attended Caltech and received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Civil Engineering. At Caltech he was a member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, and received the Goldsworthy Track Award.

He was a registered civil and structural engineer and was employed by Boyle Engineering Corporation in Newport Beach for thirty years until his retirement in  1984.   He  participated in the design of several water resources and sewerage projects, earthen dams and highway bridges in Orange County and other parts of the country. Mr. Schroeder was a Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Water Works Association, Structural Engineers Association of Southern California, the U.S. Committee on Large Dams, and the Consulting Engineer's Association of California. He received both an Engineer of the Year award and Lifetime Achievement in Civil Engineering award from the Orange County Branch of ASCE where he also served as a past president.

In 1951, Dwight married the love of his life, Iris Iverson, who was a classmate at Santa Ana High. In 1953, they established their home on part of the Schroeder family orange grove in Santa Ana where they would live the rest of their lives. He was a lifelong member of Grand Avenue Church where he served as treasurer for many years. Dwight enjoyed fly fishing and golf as a member of Mesa Verde Country Club. He also loved to travel the world with his wife Iris.

Dwight lived a life of selfless Christian service, and was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He was admired for his wisdom, humility, integrity, and calm demeanor. He was preceded in death by his wife Iris Eileen, 89, just three days before his own passing. He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Susan; sister, Leola Noe; and brother, Kenneth Schroeder. He is survived by daughters, Sherrill Smith and Lori Goodfriend; son, William Schroeder; sons-in-law, Michael Smith and Jeff Goodfriend; grandchildren, Timothy, Michael and Kristen Goodfriend and Matthew and Eric Smith; brother, Lowell Schroeder; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for both Iris and Dwight Schroeder will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 30th, 2016 at Santa Ana United Methodist Church, 2121 North Grand Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or St. Joseph's Hospital.

Source of Obituary: Orange County Register, 1/14/16

Edited By: William E. Lawson, PE, F.ASCE