Alice Martii Ford Schaffer, 94, born in Mobile, Alabama on November 6, 1923 passed away on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Schaffer was a retired Principal of the Mobile County Public School System. She was a graduate of The University of Alabama and received her Master’s and A.A. at The University of South Alabama.
She began her teaching career at Glendale Elementary School, 1946-1949. She was the Kindergarten teacher at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School, 1957-1965; Elizabeth Fonde Elementary School, 1965-1968; Scarborough Middle School, 1968-1971; Barton Academy, Title Resource Teacher, 1971-1979; Semmes Elementary School, Principal, 1977-1987. She retired in 1987.
She was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church for 40 years. She was a member of various Educational Organizations including, Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Kappa Gamma and the Mobile Retired Teachers. She was a 50 plus year member of The Virginia Cavalier Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution where she served in many capacities, including Regent of the Chapter. She most recently was a member of The Mobile Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a founding member of St. Dominic’s Jubilee Club and was a member of The Riese Club of St. Pius.
She met the love of her life, William J. Schaffer, Jr. (Bill) the summer of 1944 in Fairhope, Alabama. They had their first date (with Chaperons) on July 4, 1944 at the Rock-A-Rona Skating Rink on Mobile Bay.
Alice and Bill were married on Thanksgiving Eve, November 27, 1946 and were married until his death, May 14, 2013. They were devoted to each other and to their daughters, granddaughters and great-grandsons.
Having graduated from the University of Alabama, she loved the Crimson Tide and was able to enjoy one last game, on Saturday, September 15, 2018 with her family.
She never stopped teaching or learning until her death. She had a love of books, especially the Bible and was always encouraging and challenging others regarding their faith and commitment to the Catholic Church.
Nothing was more important to her than her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Fitzgerald Ford and Morgan Cecil Brown; her brother, Willis Thomas Ford and sister-in-law, Marietta Nelson Ford along with other relatives. She is survived by her daughters, Alice Schaffer (Timothy) Mitchell, Rebecca Schaffer Minto; granddaughters, Meghan Ann (Adam) Spuler, Emily Minto (Robert William) Head, Kathleen Mitchell (David) Cawley; five great grandsons, Gavin Mitchell Spuler, Liam Christopher Spuler, Caden James Spuler, Robert William Head, IV and Charles Minto Head.
Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 24, 2018 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church; 2605 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36607 followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Pine Crest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Catherine of Siena Church or Archangel Radio, Fairhope, Alabama.
