M Virginia Schafer

Virginia Schafer passed away at age 91 on February 7, 2023. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, March 17, 11 am PDT at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98105. The service will be live streamed on the Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church YouTube Channel; please find the link to M Virginia Schafer's Memorial Service further down this page.

Virginia was born on March 26, 1931 in Iowa City, Iowa to Mark and Margaret Schafer and grew up in Wellman, IA. After her father’s death when she was 9 years old, her mother went to work as a telephone operator at the Hanford Nuclear Complex in Washington state. Virginia remained in Wellman and was raised by her maternal grandmother. She attended Washington State University (WSU) from 1948 to 1952 and graduated with a B.A. in Home Economics. Pursuing her wish to travel in Europe, she entered the US Foreign Service. Her first post was in the Philippines, working as a secretary in the American Embassy in Manila. Thus began a 30 year career in the US Department of State Foreign Service. Over the course of her career she also served in Moscow, Vienna, Bucharest, Conakry (Guinea, West Africa), Sydney, and Beijing where she was a member of the team that re-opened the US embassy in 1973. She also served several high level positions within the State Department in Washington DC and was a graduate and instructor at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces located at Ft. McNair in DC. Virginia retired from her final post as US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in 1984.

Virginia returned to Washington state in 1984 and settled in Seattle. She was named Director of Seattle’s newly created Office of International Affairs under Mayor Charles Royer in 1987. She improved relations with Seattle’s foreign trading partners and boosted the Sister City program.

Retirement years were split between Seattle and Arizona so that she could work year round on her golf game. Virginia made friends easily. Her curiosity and interest in other people and other places never waned. Throughout her life she was an ardent supporter and advocate for professional women.

Virginia served on many professional associations, including the Board of Trustees for the WSU Foundation, the Board of the Seattle-Christchurch (New Zealand) Sister City Association, and the Development Council of the Burke Museum (University of Washington). She was a member of the West Seattle Golf Club and an active member of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church in Seattle.

She remained a lifelong WSU enthusiast: Go Cougs!

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Margaret Nicholson Schafer Graduate Fellowship in Food Science or Nutrition (GF005934) at WSU. Checks may be sent payable to: WSU Foundation – Gift Accounting, PO Box 641927, Pullman, WA 99164-1927. Please note that the gift is in memory of Virginia Schafer. Or give online here Margaret Nicholson Schafer Graduate Fellowship in od Science or Nutrition

Her journey from Home Economics major to US Ambassador is a testament to her drive and ability. Virginia will be missed by many, especially within her global network of friends and colleagues. May she rest in peace.