Leonida Schuhmann Valenta

by Sidney Schuhmann Levesque

Leonida Augusta Schuhmann was born May 21, 1896 in Shiner, Lavaca County, Texas, to Theodore Schuhmann and Johanna Mischer. She died Aug. 16, 1984 in Lavaca County and was buried in the Shiner Sons of Herman Cemetery. She was adopted by the Louis Wager family on Oct. 31, 1896. She married Rudie Valenta on May 19, 1930. He was born Feb. 27, 1892. He died Oct. 13, 1957 and was buried in the Shiner Sons of Herman Cemetery. They had no children.

Leonida was like a mother to Rudie’s daughter, Meta Marthalyn, by his first wife, who died in childbirth. Leonida’s nickname was “Needles.” A book about Shiner said Leonida and Rudie instilled in his daughter a love of community, church and family. Leonida took piano lessons and graduated from Shiner High School in 1914, the only girl in the graduating class. She attended college for one year at C.I.A. in Denton (now Women’s University). During World War I, she was employed by the Farmers State Bank. Later she worked 17 years for First National Bank. She was active in community activities and was treasurer of the Methodist church for a long time and was secretary for the Eastern Star for 25 years. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Shiner Hospital Auxiliary.