Fred Charles Schnibbe

SCHNIBBE — Fred Charles, 94; born July 14, 1925, Brooklyn, New York; died Aug. 16, 2019, College Place, Washington. Surviving: wife, Verona; sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Winnie Schnibbe, Walla Walla, Washington; Dale and Ann Schnibbe, Spokane, Washington; 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Dr. Fred Charles Schnibbe of College Place, Washington, passed away on Aug. 16, 2019, at Park Manor. He was 94. Fred Charles Schnibbe was born on July 14, 1925, to Fred Herman and Johanna Maier Schnibbe in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from the School of Automotive Trades and was drafted into the Army during World War II. He became a medical technician and was assigned to the first established Army Evacuation Hospital in Europe. He became fascinated with all things medical while helping to treat wounded soldiers in Austria and Germany.

In 1946, he followed his sister west to attend Walla Walla College. He had become a X-ray tech overseas, so he took calls at both Walla Walla General and St. Mary’s hospitals.

He married Verona Montanye on June 20, 1948, soon after she graduated. She continued to work in the registrar’s office while he completed his junior and senior years. He was accepted into medical school at Loma Linda, California, and graduated in 1954, from College of Medical Evangelists, now Loma Linda University School of Medicine.

After interning at Portland Adventist Hospital, he answered a call to practice in Twisp, Washington, in the foothills of the North Cascades, 40 miles from the county hospital in Brewster, Washington. More medical help arrived in the Methow Valley before older son, Bob, was ready to start church school. Fred accepted the invitation of Dr. Harold Stout and Harold Lamberton to join them in practice to form the Community Medical Center near the hospital and the Seventh-day Adventist church and school in Brewster. It was a special relationship and all kept up with continuing medical education and a very lively practice. The Brewster Adventist congregation met for several years in the school gymnasium and when they decided to build a new church, Fred, a church elder, was named builing committee chairman.

Schnibbe specialized in baby boys: Robert Kent, born in Los Angeles, California in 1952 (medical school on divided campus); Richard Brent, Portland, Oregon in 1954; Dale in Brewster, Washington in 1956. Fred retired several times, but finally for real in December of 1994. He did continue to assist in surgery, which he quit in 2002. In 2008, they sold Hidden Pines Ranch and moved to College Place, Washington among relatives and old college friends. They volunteered at Walla Walla General Hospital and the Walla Walla University Havstad Alumni Center. They were also greeters at the WWU Church.

Fred was preceded in death by son, Dr. Robert Schnibbe; his parents; sister, Viola Drum; brother, Bill Schnibbe. Surviving are wife, Verona; daughter-in-law, Dee Ann Schnibbe; sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Winnie; Dr. Dale and Ann; granddaughters; Liesl Heidi Hayes, Tonya Burnham; grandsons, Eric and Jacob Schnibbe; great-grandchildren, Koen and Addison Hayes, Cole and Oliver Burnham, twins James Madlyn and Poppy Mae Schnibbe; brother and sister-in-law, Dick and Ann; brother-in-law, Mike Montanye; sisters-in-law, Florence Montanye; Marge Schnibbe; several nieces and nephews.