Bernard William Schmitt

Bernard William Schmitt (August 17, 1928 – August 16, 2011) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia from March 29, 1989, to December 9, 2004.

Biography

Early life Bernard Schmitt was born August 17, 1928, in Wheeling, West Virginia, the fourth of seven sons of Lawrence E. Schmitt and Eulalia R. Schiffer Schmitt. He attended Corpus Christi School and Central Catholic High School, both in Wheeling. Schmitt began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland and continued at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland.

Priesthood Schmitt was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Wheeling on May 28, 1955, by Bishop Thomas John McDonnell.

John Paul II accepted Schmitt's resignation as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston on December 9, 2004. Bernard Schmitt died on August 16, 2011, at Wheeling Hospital in Wheeling. He was one day shy of his 83rd birthday. The chief celebrant and homilist at the funeral was his successor, Bishop Michael Bransfield.