Patsy Schooler, 93, optometrist worked in family business
March 23, 2023
Patsy V. Schooler of Georgetown died March 17 at Palmettos Memory Care of Garden City. She was 93.
She was born Feb. 24, 1930, in Tampa, Fla, the first of three daughters of James Alexander Vaughn and Annie Ruth Gregory Vaughn. She graduated from Hillsborough High School, attended the University of Alabama and earned her doctor of optometry degree at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. It was here she met Charles Bernard Schooler, her husband of 70 years. She worked as a bank teller, a teacher and as the bookkeeper for Charlie’s optometric practice.
Mrs. Schooler was a member of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, the Francis Asbury Sunday School class and the Loula Ford circle. Her love for history and learning led her to be a proud member of the Winyah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a district representative for the Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies and member of the Georgetown Historical Society.
She served for many years on the Foster Care Review Board for the Georgetown County Department of Social Services and volunteered in countless local organizations. She had a passion for lifting up those in need, especially children.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, Chip Schooler of Highland Falls, N.Y.; her daughters, Ruth Leonard (John) of Kingsport, Tenn., and Jo Kriikku (Eric) of Augusta, Ga.; her grandchildren, Paul Kriikku, Gwynivere Schooler and Giselle Schooler; her sisters, Jo Tharp (Sonny) of Mount Pleasant and Jackie McCants of Tampa; and many nieces and nephews
Her family thanked the caregivers in her home, at Palmettos and from Caris Healthcare.
A memorial service will be held at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. Saturday March 25 by the Revs. Ross Chellis and Dora Gafford. Her family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Georgetown Chapel of Mayer-Ethridge Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church, 901 Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC, 29440.
There is a guest book at mayerfuneralhome.com.
