Charles Anthony "Tony" Schoder Jr.
June 18, 1942 – May 11, 2024

In the best sense, Tony Schoder was the life of the party.

He'd give a friend – and he had many – the shirt off his back. A master storyteller, his dry wit and "one-liners" were legendary. If you were part of his foursome you never had a bad round of golf. He was kind, loyal and genuine, and if you were looking for someone with whom to toast the blessings of life (or a good golf score) at day's end, he was your man.

Charles Anthony Schoder Jr. of Daytona Beach, Florida, passed away on May 11, 2024. Tony, as everyone knew him, was 81.
The only child of Chuck and Flip Schoder, Tony spent part of his childhood in Cuba and Puerto Rico (his dad was in the U.S. Navy) before moving with his family to Jacksonville for grade school. After graduating from Robert E. Lee High School, where he played football and basketball, he attended Stetson University in Deland. The first in his family to attend college, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1964, played basketball with the Hatters and was a Sigma Nu brother. Stetson is also where he met his wife, Donna. The two were married 32 years and blessed with two wonderful daughters.

After graduating, he served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, flying reconnaissance missions. He returned home, earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1970, settled with his family in Ormond Beach and flourished in his career as a lawyer. He loved his work representing defendants in civil cases, including medical malpractice suits. He shared his wisdom and empathy with clients, searching for a just resolution or, when possible, common ground. No wonder he spent the final years of his career as a mediator.

Tony is survived by the mother of his children, Donna Lee Dericks Schoder; two daughters – Stephanie Lynch of Charlotte, N.C., and Corey Poe and her husband, Charlie, of Tampa; and six grandchildren – Weston Poe, Holland Poe, Wilson Poe, Kathryn Lynch, Avery Lynch, and Hugh Lynch III; and his longtime partner, Dorian Burt.

Tony was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Hugh Lynch Jr., of Charlotte.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18, at Lohman Funeral Home Ormond, 733 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach. A reception to celebrate his life will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Oceanside Country Club, 75 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach.
A gift in Tony's memory can be made to Stetson University College of Law.

As one of his friends put it, Tony got his money's worth.

His daughters were his pride and joy. As fun-loving as he was, he was a strict father, insisting they do well in school and work hard in life. He adored his grandkids and was so very proud of all of their accomplishments. He forged close connections at Ormond Beach Rotary Club, the Quarterback Club and was active in the Volusia County and Florida Bar Associations. He was a fixture at Oceanside Country Club, where he served two terms as President, played golf most weekends (he could crack 80 on his best days), and shared a Dewars or two with his best mates. He laughed easily, including at himself. He loved watching sports and cheered on the University of Florida Gators. He could shag like nobody's business. Put on the Everly Brothers (his favorite) or Jimmy Buffet and he was a happy man. His palate was simple and yet discerning (how he loved Diet Cokes and Oreos). Whether it was veal parmigiana and garlic bread at Mario's Restaurant in Ormond Beach or a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup in front of ESPN in his oceanfront condo, he was content.

Anyone who knew Tony Schoder has a story to tell and a memory to cling to. He was, after all, the life of the party.

To view the Memorial Service online, on a device with Zoom installed, please utilize the following link:

https://www.econdolence.com/rk9ywyzf