David W. Schultz

David W. Schultz, age 80, of Massillon, Ohio died on June 18th, 2025.

Born on December 5, 1944, he was the son of the late William C. Schultz and Lorraine M. (Hartway) Schultz of Richmond, Michigan.

He is survived by his wife, Jane L. (Owens) Schultz, whom he married on January 13, 1973, and two sons, Benjamin and his wife, Britt Willey, of Seattle, and Stephen and his wife, Mary Yund, of Cleveland. He is also survived by a brother, Philip G. Schultz of Memphis, Michigan.

Mr. Schultz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Michigan State University in 1968. He subsequently worked for several newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Dowagiac Daily News, Hamilton Journal-News, Woodbury Times, Omaha World Herald, and Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. He began his newspaper career with his hometown weekly, the Richmond Review, in the early 1960s.

He moved to Massillon in 1980 when he was named publisher and editor of The Evening Independent. He reluctantly left the newspaper industry to become vice president of marketing for the MCA Sign Company of Massillon and, later, CDA Industries of Toronto, Ontario.

Following retirement he had a third career as the executive director and driving force behind the Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles and the Concours d’Elegance at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Both were nationally-known classic automobile events.

He served several terms as a trustee of the Massillon Museum, including three separate terms as museum chairman. He was chairman when the museum moved into its new facility in 1996 and when the museum expanded in 2017. He facilitated the museum’s acquisition of a 1908 Jewel automobile, which was built in Massillon. He was also a past director and president of the Massillon Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Massillon Rotary Club. He was also a founder of the Massillon Academic Booster Club.

Vintage automobiles were a big part of his life. Nationally, he was a trustee and chairman of the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation, which oversaw construction and operation of the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum in Hickory Corners, Mich. He served as president of the Lincoln Owners Club and edited the club’s magazine. He also served as a director and president of the Classic Car Club of America. For many years he was a columnist for Hemmings Classic Car. What he enjoyed most was simply talking cars or giving a “first ride” to someone in one of his cars.

He was a judge at several national automobile concours d’elegance including Pebble Beach, Meadow Brook and Amelia Island, where he also served as chief judge for many years.

He had many interests In addition to Classic automobiles, among them were baseball, classic motion pictures, early jazz and blues and ocean liners of the 1920s and 30s. He especially enjoyed driving his vintage automobiles. He and Jane drove thousands of miles and saw a lot of countryside.

The enduring focus of his life was his family-his best friend, Jane, and his sons, Ben and Stephen and their wives. He was also proud to have owned several “great dogs.”

A celebration of life will be held at the Massillon Museum on August 23 at 11:30am.

Memorials may be made to the Massillon Museum’s Endowment Fund or to the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation Endowment Fund.

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