George Frederick Schafer, Jr.

George was born and raised on Prentice Place in East Baltimore. Attended Sunday School and Church at Saint Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. He graduated from Thomas A. Edison Vocational High School.

He enlisted in the Army at age 17 and served four years in Japan and Korea. He was always proud to tell us his unit made the first amphibious landing in Korea. Following an honorable discharge, he worked at Aberdeen Proving Ground in the Quartermaster Division.

He wanted to challenge himself by enrolling in college, attending King’s College in Briarcliff Manor, NY. He worked many jobs and long hours to pay for his tuition. He graduated with a degree in history. He returned to Baltimore and briefly worked at the Maryland State Penitentiary.

He became a member of Abbott Memorial Presbyterian Church in the late 1950’s. While at Abbott he met his wife of 66 years, Ruth Jean Powell, and they were married September 3, 1960. They have 2 sons Joshua and Paul; 2 granddaughters, Kristina (husband Daniel Phillips and daughter Sylvia Lori Phillips), and Rebecca. He taught the Word of Life Adult Sunday School class and served as an elder.

Once married they returned to Briar Cliff Manor, NY where he served as Dean of Students at King’s College. They returned to Baltimore and he resumed his career at the Maryland State Penitentiary. He rose to the position of Warden. He researched and designed the Maryland Classification and Diagnostic Center which continues to operate under his guidelines. He transitioned to the Department of Personnel where he administered the employee Health Insurance program for all State employees. Retiring from the State on a Friday, he began work on Monday for Baltimore County government administering their insurance program beyond health to include life, vehicle, helicopter, et al.

He loved reading and studying the scriptures, amassing an impressive personal library. He could be found many a Saturday night at the kitchen table after everyone else was asleep with many books opened finalizing his thoughts for the next day’s lesson. He taught at The Canton Bible Institute for 25 years. Whatever church he was attending he would be teaching high school students on Sunday morning and adults on Wednesday night. His last teaching series was at Loch Raven Presbyterian Church, which was titled The Bible that Jesus read, a study of the Old Testament.

He coached both son’s little league baseball teams and Ruth was always the official score keeper and made sure we batted in order.

Just prior to retiring from Baltimore County, he and Ruth purchased a vacation home in Ocean City, MD. For 32 years he enjoyed fishing off the Route 50 bridge and attending Ocean View Presbyterian Church. They were as “locals” as they could be at the beach. It didn’t take long for him to remember what local church was having a fried chicken dinner on Saturday. They made many friends and met some old friends at these dinners where he was always the last one finished eating.

He was a member of Mount Vernon Lodge in the Masonic Order serving as a 3-time Most Worshipful Master. He was a member of Boumi Shrine and The Knights’s Templar. He was a long-time member of The Gideons. He and Ruth always signed up to distribute New Testament scriptures at the Maryland State Fair.

They traveled extensively in retirement visiting most every state and many European destinations, including Germany which was the land of his ancestry. The highlight of their travels being Egypt and Israel where they walked where Jesus walked.

They are members at Loch Raven Presbyterian Church.

Following an extended illness Goerge went to be with his savior, the Lord Jesus Christ in the early morning hours of Monday, July 27, 2026, where no doubt he heard the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”.

Psalm 116:1,2

I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Contributions to George’s memory may be made to:

The Gideons International

P.O. Box 140800

Nashville, TN 37214-0800

Or Online at www.Gideons.org

Shriners Hospital for Children

2900 N. Rocky Point Dr.

Tampa, FL 33607

Or Online at www.Shrinerschildrens.org