Norma Eileen Schafroth, 73, died Oct.19, 2003, at Home Place Special Care Center, Oak Harbor. She was born Aug. 28, 1930, in Hackensack, N. J., to Henry S. and Mae Cynthia (Springsted) Wehrmaker. She was the youngest of four children and was raised in Bogota, N.J. Norma met Ernest P. Schafroth while they both worked at Home Health Insurance Company in New York City.
The Schafroths were married in Brooklyn, N.Y., Oct. 11, 1952. Ernie and Norma celebrated 51 years of marriage one week before her death. She and Ernie moved to Arlington, Va., soon after their marriage. Mrs. Schafroth worked for United Mine Workers, serving as an accountant for five hospitals. She then began work with the World Bank, becoming one of their first computer analysts. While in Virginia, she attended night school, received her bachelor’ss of science degree, graduated cum laud with a gold honor medal.
Norma worked for Electronic Data Services and the European Division of General Motors as a computer analyst. She and Ernie moved to Switzerland in 1980. Norma retired in 1992.
In 1997, Norma began suffering from the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease. They moved to Oak Harbor to be near family. Ernie cared for her in Summerhill, until it became necessary to place her in Home Place Special Care Center.
Norma enjoyed traveling, reading, writing letters and poetry, stories, making great photo albums and singing in the church choir and ocean cruises. In her earlier years, she enjoyed roller skating, skiing, serving as a camp counselor and being with family and friends.
Norma is survived by her husband Ernie Schafroth of Oak Harbor, by one niece Fran Ford and husband Tom of Oak Harbor, by two sisters, Patricia Heyzer of Waldwick, N.J., and Doris Morse of Downington, Pa., and one brother George Wehrmaker of New Jersey.
Memorial services for Norma Schafroth will be held at Summer Hill Retirement Center Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003, at 2 p.m. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor. This obituary is on-line at http://burley.plan4ever.com.
