George Salman Schmitt passed away peacefully on April 22, 2023 in the presence of his beloved wife in Highlands, North Carolina.

Son of Anna Schmitt and George F. Salman, George was born in New York, New York on September 25, 1930. George spent his early childhood with his maternal grandparents in Germany.

In 1951, George married Mary C. Procida in New York. In 1965, George moved to Highlands, where he and Marie would raise their family, begin the family business of Schmitt Building Contractors, and become a huge part of the mountain community.

George is preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, May L. Salman, and is survived by his wife of 72 years Marie, stepbrother's Ricky Salman and Ronald Salman and children Gary William (May), Paul Bernard (Andrea),George Frederick (Gabrielle), Anita Marie Lupoli (John) and Eric Alexander (Denise). He is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

George will be remembered for his service to the community and to others. He served with the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1952. He was a volunteer fireman in New York and North Carolina, served time in Bolivia building a children's home, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.

Upon moving to Highlands, George became an active member of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church Highlands and served there in several positions for many years - most notably as an organist for many years. George had a passion for the arts community and served with the Highlands Playhouse for many years. With a love for education, George was one of the visionaries and creators of the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund. He was a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Highlands. He was also active with the American Legion Post 370 and enjoyed serving alongside fellow veterans.

George was an endless volunteer, serviceman, musician, and master carpenter and will be remembered by family and friends for the legacy he leaves in the Highlands area and for his wit and humor.

George was a strong, independent, talented, intelligent and fierce supporter of those he loved. He loved working with his hands, playing the organ, golfing, tennis, and his German heritage, but his greatest joy was spending time with his family. He loved and was greatly loved by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, extended family and church family and will be dearly missed.

A celebration of George's life will be held Saturday, April 29 at 4:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Highlands, NC (315 N 5th St, Highlands, NC 28741).

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that donations be made to Four Seasons Hospice Care at their website, or the Town of Highlands Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 460, Attn Rebecca Shuler.

Moffitt Funeral Care is handling the arrangements.