She was born on October 8, 1934, to Willard & Thelma Eaton of Leadwood Missouri.
Sandra was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for many years. Along with her late husband John, they both shared a deep passion and participated in numerous historical re-enactments with the North-South Skirmish Association in Winchester, Virginia.
She was a member of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Hampton, Virginia and loved every minute she spent there. She retired from the Virginia Department of Marine Resources.
Some of our fondest memories of her are how she would have the whole family over at her and John’s house on Christmas eve to celebrate the day as one big family. The ham biscuits, the teriyaki chicken wings, and the buffet of everything imaginable. Then, all the grandchildren would sit down and she would pass out presents to all of them. The joy that we all saw on the faces of those children as they opened their gifts was a wonderful sight to see. She loved those children with all her heart. Her passion was to make all the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews experience the joy of Christmas.
To this day, some have tried and succeeded, others, well, not so much, to replicate this cake that was known as The Bunny cake. The white bunny-shaped cake with coconut topping, black licorice eyes, and a red jellybean nose was savored by all. This was an Easter favorite and must-have. The Gooey Butter cake she made was absolutely the best cake ever. In her honor, we will continue to try until we succeed.
She had many shared passions with members of her family. Rooting for the Washington Redskins, watching hockey, and football games when we were all young.
She was always excited to travel back home to Leadwood, Missouri with John, her sister Joan, and her husband Bill to reunite with other family members where they grew up. There are so many fond memories that we have of her life.Each one of them is so remarkable and at times hilarious that we cannot list them all.
Sandra was a very caring and loving person and loved all her children with all her heart.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Thelma Eaton; her sister, Joan Forinash; and beloved husband, John Schmidt.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Timberland Widman; her son, Tony Blaher and his wife Terry; her son, Todd Blaher and his wife Gail; her daughter, Tonya Romans and her husband James; her niece, Melissa Forinash and her husband Fred; her nephew, Michael Forinash and his wife Amy; and all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and beloved friends.
When she married John, her heart and family grew. She thought of his children as her own: John Schmidt, David Schmidt and his wife Debbie, Leonard Schmidt and his wife Teresa, Carol Ann Wood, and all their children and grandchildren.
A visitation for Sandra will be held Thursday, July 28, 2022, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Parklawn Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA, followed by a celebration of life service at 12:00 PM. An interment to follow the service will occur at Parklawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation.
