By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MARIEMONT - Arley Bell Schneider, a community volunteer and well-known hostess, died July 8. The longtime Mariemont resident was 80.

"She is remembered for her entertaining - the lovely dinner parties and Christmas open houses she gave and the wonderful birthday parties she threw for her friends and family," said her daughter-in-law, Becky Schneider of Bridgetown.

Mrs. Schneider was a member of the Mariemont Gardening Club and a gift-shop volunteer at Bethesda Hospital for many years.

Born in Youngstown in 1922, she grew up in Hyde Park and graduated from Withrow High School in 1940. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati Teacher's College in 1944.

At UC, Mrs. Schneider was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, serving as president in 1942-43. She remained close to her Alpha Gam sisters until her death.

After college, she joined the Navy WAVEs and served in a secretarial pool in California and Oklahoma until she married Naval Ensign Rudolph G. Schneider in 1945.

Most of their married life was spent in Mariemont, where Mrs. Schneider gained a reputation as a talented decorator. In the 1960s, she took first place in a table-setting contest sponsored by the old Pogue's department store. She won numerous floral-arranging contests.

Mrs. Schneider was a member of the Mariemont Community Church and a 53-year member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

She traveled extensively outside the United States. Mrs. Schneider also loved to make her annual trek to Stowe, Vt. to see the fall foliage.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Arthur Schneider of Bridgetown and Stephen Schneider of St. Paul, Minn.; and three grandchildren.

Services have been held. Burial was at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to a charity of the donor's choice.

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E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com