Obituary of Paul Schaefer

On February 21, 2023, Paul Schaefer, 96, most recently of West Palm Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully in his sleep. 

Paul was married for 65 years to his beloved wife, Shirley Wells Schaefer who predeceased him in 2016. He was a loving father to Paula S. Wise, Mark W. Schaefer, Andrea S. Brown, and Eve S. Van Buren, and a devoted grandfather to Zachary Wise, Courtney Wise, Dana Schaefer, Kai Schaefer, Max Van Buren, and Ella Van Buren. He is also survived by a niece, 3 nephews, and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews, along with their spouses and many friends. 

Paul was preceded in death by his cherished grandsons Nicholas Wise (2019), and Eric Schaefer (2004). 

A proud native of Baltimore, Paul was the youngest of four children, born to Louis and Marie Schaefer. At 18, he joined the U.S. Navy serving as a signalman on the USS Rolette, an attack cargo ship, during World War II. Following his Navy service, Paul attended Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) where he met his wife, Shirley, and made many life-long friends. After graduation, he briefly taught grade school before starting a 25-year career working for the Federal Government.He was a Director of Human Resources for the Department of the Army, and later the Department of Transportation in Washington DC. A highlight of Paul's career was the opportunity to live and work overseas, which he did with his family for three years in Nuremburg, Germany, and two years in the U.S. Canal Zone in Panama.  

Paul had many interests and hobbies which brought him great pleasure throughout his life, including painting, landscaping, gardening, reading, opera, and fine wine. In retirement, he and Shirley enjoyed living part time in Florida and spent innumerable happy times with friends, old and new. Later in life, Paul took up new hobbies, roller blading, wind-surfing, and cooking, to name a few. Ultimately, there was nothing that gave him more joy than to gather with his family in Maryland or Florida to share good food, great wine, old stories, and lots of laughs. 

A Celebration of Life will be held for Paul at Loudon Park Funeral Home, 3620 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21229, on May 6, 2023 at 12pm, with lunch to follow.