Rev. Charles H. Schettler
Deceased: 2009-12-17
Diocese: OKLAHOMA CITY
Seminary Graduation Year: 1955
Reverend Charles H. Schettler, 80, died December 17, 2009, at the rectory of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Oklahoma City, after a short illness. Father Schettler was born to William C. and Cecilia Doebel Schettler on the family farm near Sterling, Oklahoma on July 10, 1929. Father Schettler attended Sterling Public School and Our Lady’s Catholic School, Sterling Oklahoma. Following his sophomore year he entered St. Louis Preparatory Seminary where he completed high school and two years of college. In 1949, he entered St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, Colorado where he completed his college education. Father Schettler attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy from 1951 – 1955 where all his studies were conducted in Latin, receiving a Licentiate in Sacred Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 8, 1954 in the chapel of the North American College, Rome. Following ordination and graduation, Father Schettler was assigned as Associate Pastor, Corpus Christi Church, Oklahoma City, where he served until 1961. In 1956, he was appointed Defender of the Bond for the Tribunal of the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa and taught religion classes at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, Oklahoma City. From 1961 – 1964, Father Schettler served as assistant chancellor for the Diocese. Father Schettler studied at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. (1964 – 1967) where he earned a Doctorate in Canon Law. In 1967, Father Schettler was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese by the Most Reverend Victor Reed. Father Schettler became the Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in 1973 where he served until his retirement in 2007. Following his retirement, Father Schettler continued to serve as collegiate judge of the Archdiocesan Tribunal. Father Schettler also served the parishes of Saint Patrick Church and Saint Francis of Assisi Church, Oklahoma City where he was in residence at the time of his death. Father Schettler was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sister Myrtle Wooldridge and husband Sylvester, and brother Marvin Conway and wife Jean and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. All who knew Father Schettler were blessed with his ready wit, vast intellect and most importantly his kind and generous heart.
