Adolf Schoepe, the 97-year-old founder and chairman of Fluidmaster Inc. and co-founder of Kwikset Lock Co., died July 29 in Fullerton after a brief illness.
Born in Berkenroth, Germany, Schoepe came to the U.S. in 1927 at age 23 without knowing how to speak English. He did have some skills as a metal worker and found work in the aviation industry. In Seattle, he helped construct Boeing Co.’s B-17 bomber, plus the new generation of 727, 737 and 747 airliners.
Schoepe later invented the Fluidmaster toilet tank repair valve, a fixture in a majority of toilets across the county. His improved lockset made Kwikset, now part of Black & Decker Co., a household name. Schoepe moved Kwikset to Anaheim in 1948.
When a concept for a toilet tank repair valve came to Kwikset in 1955, Schoepe sold his interest in the company and created Fluidmaster in Anaheim.
In 1998, Fluidmaster moved from Anaheim to San Juan Capistrano. A company official said as recently as a few months ago Schoepe still would come into work.
Schoepe also was a longtime Orange County business and community leader, fundraiser and philanthropist.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Virginia Sherrill Schoepe; daughter Sherrill Schoepe of Pauma Valley; son Robert of South Laguna,; daughter-in-law Teri; three grandchildren Corinne, Torrey and Christian; and sister Molly.
