Gladys Anna Schuler, 82, passed away at her daughter’s home in Virginia Beach on Monday, April 11, 2016. Born December 1, 1933, in Boston, Mass., she grew up in Cranston and Warwick, R.I., the daughter of the late Reinhold and Anna (Reichert) Balzer.
She graduated from Cranston High School and married Erich E. Schuler on May 4, 1957, starting her career as wife and mother. Erich’s Air Force career eventually brought the family to Fairfax, where she relentlessly cared for him until his death from Multiple Sclerosis in 2009. She remained in Fairfax until September 2015, when she moved to Virginia Beach to be closer to her daughter.
Gladys made friends easily, and to her, they were family. Her spirit and fun-loving character endeared her to everyone who met her. She loved her lifelong Air Force friends, her Sweetbriar Forest neighbors, her friends at Providence Square in Fairfax and at First Colonial Inn in Virginia Beach, and too many others to name.
Her trademark feisty, take-charge personality will not be forgotten. She was generous to a fault and yet she sugar-coated absolutely nothing; she would always tell it like it is. Gladys spent the last few years in and out of hospitals due to multiple health issues. When told that her nurses said she was feisty, she said, ‘That’s just nurse-speak for pain-in-the-ass.’ Faced with the prospect of spending the rest of her life in and out of hospitals and rehab facilities, she told her doctor, ‘No more medicine, tests, surgeries or tubes. I’m going home to my daughter’s house with hospice care. I’m 82 years old. I’ve had a great life. I’m ready to go. Let me go.’ She passed peacefully two days later gazing at her beloved great-grandchildren. Her family and friends will miss her terribly.
Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Erich E. Schuler; son, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steven E. Schuler; and nephew, Glenn Higgins.
Surviving her are her daughter, Janice Schuler-Rivas (Frank Rivas) of Virginia Beach; granddaughters, Karina (Hector) Martinez, and their children, Daniel and Magdalena, all of Richmond, Sheri Lewis of Newport News, Diana (Greg) Sandstrom of Blacksburg and Stephanie Schuler of Philadelphia, Pa.; daughter-in-law, Karen Schuler of Ashburn; brother, Erich (Penni) Balzer of Fort Mill, S.C.; sister, Erika (William) Higgins of Holden, Mass.; niece, Lisa (William) Mitchell of Acton, Mass.; and nephew, William Higgins of Waltham, Mass.
The family wishes to thank the staff, nurses and doctors at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, The Hoy Center, Laura Herrington and Cozy Care and Tom Elder of Hospice who provided exceptional care.
A celebration of Gladys’ life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax. The celebration will continue at Providence Square Condominiums, 10328 Sager Ave., Fairfax. At a future date, Gladys will be reunited with Erich and her son, Steven, in Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Eda H. Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care of Tidewater, 260 Grayson Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462.
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