James Schwartz Obituary

James Daniel Schwartz, age 86, was called to heaven on June 25, 2025 surrounded by family. Jim was born on March 12, 1939 and grew up in Valley View, PA the only son of principal, Daniel K Schwartz, and teacher, Pauline N Schwartz (Hassler). He attended Tri-Valley High School (Class of ’57) and was a pitcher on the Varsity baseball team. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jean, and attended Penn State (Class of ’61, BS Agricultural Engineering). 

After graduation Jim farmed the family homestead in Urban, PA for seven years with Mary and their three young children. Jim then started his career with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture before moving on to the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC. Thirty years later he retired to Florida and spent 10 years enjoying the Gulf Coast before returning to Virginia to be closer to the family.

Jim enjoyed spending time with his family, sharing the activities he loved including baseball, boating, camping, fishing, hunting, motorcycles, tractors, cars, woodworking, and building/fixing things. He was a true engineer at heart and loved teaching and sharing his knowledge. Jim also loved his church family and was a devoted member of Fairfield’s Methodist Church.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary J Schwartz (Kraft); his son, Jamie Schwartz; his daughters, Kelly Kessler (Mike) and Lisa Syed (Izhar); eleven grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; and the dog, Molly. Jim, beloved and devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend will be missed by all and remembered for his kindness, generosity, engineering skills, and tenacity.

A celebration of life will be held at Fairfield’s Methodist Church 14741 Northumberland Hwy Burgess, VA 22432 on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 1pm. Internment will be held at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ 1473 Urban Rd Herndon, PA 17830 later this summer.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society. Faulkner Funeral Home, Marks-Bristow Chapel, Tappahannock is assisting the family with arrangements.