Barbara Vickers Schafer, of Woolwich, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died July 14 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. A first generation American, Barbara was born on Oct. 14, 1926 in Bethany, Penn., the daughter of Percy and Gladys (Williams) Vickers. She received her RN from Temple University through the United States Cadet Nurse Corps.
Barbara married her beloved husband, Ralph G. Schafer Sr. on Oct. 23, 1948. After spending 20 years as a devoted Navy wife and mother, she returned to her career in nursing in 1971 with CHANS, formerly Bath Public Nursing Association. In 1990, Barbara was the recipient of the Roselle Huddleston Award from the Maine Chapter of the American Lung Association for distinguished service and outstanding contributions to improve the health of Maine citizens. As an Area Resource Nurse for the TB Control Program, Barbara was the lead person for control of Tuberculosis in the Bath area, where Maine had experienced one of the largest outbreaks of TB in modern times. Upon retirement Barbara spent countless hours volunteering for the Navy Relief Society, BPOE Santa Fund, American Lung Association and Mid-Coast Presbyterian Church.
Barbara was an avid golfer and took great pleasure in playing cards into the “wee” hours of the night with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She especially enjoyed her travels and adventures with her family and many friends.
Barbara was predeceased by her loving husband Ralph.
She is survived by daughters and their spouses: Cheryl and Edward Young, Barbara and Carlton Sherman, Linda McGee and Tom Qualey, and Carolyn Schafer and Jim Meixell; son, Ralph Jr. and wife Nancy; grandchildren, Wendy, Jamie, Geoff, Kym, Lindsey, Sandy, Meagan, Erin, Robbie, Sarah, Jesse, Chris, and Maggie; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Cameron, Addison, Ben, Justin, David, and Finn; and sisters, Marion Haefner and Alyce Vickers.
Visiting hours 6-8 p.m., Mon., July 19 at Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High St., Bath. Funeral service 10 a.m., Tues., July 20 at Mid-Coast Presbyterian Church, 84 Main St., Topsham. Committal service will follow at 1 p.m. at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Maine Chapter of the American Lung Association, 122 State St., Augusta, ME 04330 or CHANS Home Health Care, 60 Baribeau Dr., Brunswick, ME 04011.
Condolences may be made online at www.daiglefuneralhome.com.
