March 9, 1925 – May 8, 2011

FERRIDAY — Services for Col. Joe Scott Schiele, 86, of Vidalia, who died Sunday, May 8, 2011, in Natchez, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday with the Rev. Clyde Ray Webber officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Col. Joe Schiele Sr. was born March 9, 1925, in Vidalia, the son of Catesby Edward Schiele and Mary Lucille Schiele. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force, having served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Col. Schiele was a graduate of Louisiana State University and Purdue University. He was an alumnus of the National War College and a lifetime member of The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Col. Schiele was the first Air Force pilot to fly the C5A. In 2008, he was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Fame in Lancaster, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lillian Mathews Schiele; one son, Steven Lowery Schiele; and three brothers, Ed, C.J. “Brer,” and Fred “Buddy” Schiele.

Survivors include one son, Joe Scott Schiele Jr. and wife, Kathy, of Yuma, Ariz.; one daughter, Kathy Dellinger and husband, Keister, of Ferriday; four grandchildren, Kimberly Gilgan and husband, Victor, Scott Schiele and wife, Deanne, Lee Dellinger and Steve Dellinger; and two great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Lee Dellinger, Scott Schiele, Ed Schiele, Max Schiele, Steve Schiele, Lyle Schiele, Doug Miller and Randy Ward.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Miller and Dalton Miller.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Methodist Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 4384, Houston, TX 77210-4384.

Online condolences may be sent to www.youngsfh.com.