THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060424
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Birley D. Schoen, a retired toolmaker, scholar, reference librarian and CONTACT volunteer, died Oct. 3, 1994, of heart failure.
Mr. Schoen was born in Philadelphia in 1909. After giving up pursuit of an M.D. degree to support his mother, Birley became a skilled toolmaker for Brown Instrument Company (later Minneapolis Honeywell) and obtained a certificate in physical metallurgy from Temple University. Birley was a relentless self-taught scholar in Shakespeare, opera, and comparative religion, literature, etymology and many other topics. He quoted much of George Bernard Shaw from memory, sang as a grand opera chorister, and lectured on Shakespeare to Virginia Beach schoolchildren.
Birley's first and only marriage came at age 59. He and his wife, Charlotte, moved to Virginia Beach in 1973, where both worked for the A.R.E. - she as chief librarian and Birley as a reference librarian and volunteer. Mrs. Schoen died in 1984.
Recently Mr. Schoen received an award from CONTACT Tidewater (the Crisis hotline) for many years of service. He had continued to served as secretary of the Memorial Society of Tidewater, an organization with an educational outreach that tries to help families pre-plan funeral arrangements. Birley was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Freemason.
A wide circle of friends knew Birley as a kind man and good neighbor who enjoyed lively discussions on a wide range of topics. Mr. Schoen is survived by a brother, a stepson and a large circle of friends.
An informal memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, 1994, at 4 p.m. at the A.R.E. in Virginia Beach (Atlantic Ave. and 67th St.). Friends, associates and co-workers are encouraged to come and share their stories of Mr. Schoen.
Memorial donations in Birley's memory may be made to Memorial Society of Tidewater, P.O. Box 4621, Virginia Beach, Va. 23454; CONTACT Tidewater, P.O. Box 23, Virginia Beach, Va. 23458; A.R.E., P.O. Box 595, Virginia Beach, Va. 23451.
Kellum Funeral Home, Bonney Road Chapel, is in charge of the arrangements.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY
by CNB