USS Liberty Survivor Robert (Budda) Schnell — RIP Dear Friend

Schnell, Robert J. Robert (Budda) Schnell, 74, of Scappoose, Oregon, passed away on September 15,2017, after an extended Illness.

While he spent many years living living in La Grande, Ore., he was raised in Milton-Freewater, Oregon and graduated from Milton-Freewater High School and Eastern Oregon University. He owned and operated an Industrial Supply Business and was a La Grande Little League boys coach. Budda spent many hours refining the Baseball and Softball Fields during the years and was awarded a LifeTime Golden Card which gave him entrance to all La Grande sporting events. For his many accomplishments as an athlete and mentor Budda was inducted into the Milton-Freewater High School Wall of Fame. Many times over the past 50 years he was interviewed for the local paper on the Anniversary of the attack on the USS Liberty. After retirement, he and wife Sue moved to Scappoose, Oregon to be closer to the five grandkids he adored. Budda is survived by his wife Susan of Scappoose, Oregon, son Ryan and family of Newberg, Oregon, and daughter Courtney Eskins and family of Scappoose, Oregon. Services will be October 6, 2019, at the Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Boulevard, Portland, Oregon, 97266. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation.