Joann Alford Schultz

Joann Alford Schultz, 82, passed away June 21, 2014 in Tomball, Texas. She was a great teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, and a faithful follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. Joann is preceded in death by her husband, Carroll E. Schultz. She is survived by her sister Jackie Kerbow along with her children JoLynn Daugherty, Bob Schultz, and Mike Schultz. A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Joann will be held June 30, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 11330 Louetta Rd., Houston, Texas. In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society. https://donate.cancer.org.

The Life of Joann Alford Schultz in Her Own Words

I was born on July 23rd, 1931 on Blossom Street in the west part of Houston. My mom was Audrey Mae Hale Alford Harrell. My dad was Arnold Edward Alford. I was the baby 5 years before Jackie, my sister came into our household. We moved around a lot but we always came back to the West End. I was in elementary school during the war. We were always collecting something to help out the war effort. Collecting scrap metal was a big thing. We always had blackout drills. Everything was rationed, sugar, coffee, gasoline, shoes, hosiery and I’m sure that is not all but I can’t remember anymore. The only place we had to play was the street. Our games were War Games, Kick-the-Can, Red Rover and Softball. We would play until our parents had to turn on the porch lights so we could see. I was a tomboy and I loved it.

In 1943 I started 7th grade at George Washington Jr. High on Shepherd St. I can remember going to Saturday morning matinees at the movie house. There was a movie, war news, and comedies. It was fun, and at the end of the school year we moved to the east end part of Houston called Woodland Acres and I started the 8th grade at Galena Park Jr High School. That was the year I started playing softball. I played for the Galena Park Lassies. A couple years later I started playing for Richey Grocery store, one of the strongest teams in the city and state of Texas. All the girls I played with were older than me but Larkin Wright and his wife, Granny, took me under their wing. We played all over the state of Texas and into Arkansas and Louisiana. Mom and Dad went to all of my games. I was a very good player and made many All Regional and All State Teams. Most of my playing was done at 2nd base. After Richey Grocery, I played for a very strong LaRose Cleaners.

In my junior year of high school we moved to the city of Galena Park. At Galena Park High School I was first string on the volleyball team and played the clarinet in the high school band. I wasn’t very good at band and quit my last year. The only thing I liked was marching at football games and in parades. After that I devoted all my time to sports. I graduated from Galena Park High School in May 1949. My Grandpa Hale, who lived with us, bought me my first pair of high heeled shoes. I remember them well. They were white and had platform soles. I could barely walk in them because I only knew how to wear softball shoes.

After I graduated I went to Business School for one month and quit. I knew I wasn’t cut out for the secretarial world. In January, 1950, I started to Sam Houston State Teachers college in Huntsville, Texas. They asked me what was going to be my major field. I thought for a few minutes and told them I was good in sports so I thought I would be a Physical Education major and a minor in Science. College were some of the best four years of my life. I was a member of the Modern Dance Club and played on the Sam Houston Badminton Team. I had many friends and three of them are still my friends today. Justine Martin, Gloria Cox, Mary Lee Bartlet, and I still have a lot of fun together.

On February 29th, 1952 my dad got real sick and died from kidney disease. His death really hurt. He was my sports fan and never missed one of my games. He never spanked me one time in my life. I can remember he aways had a big smile on his face. He would do anything Mom, Jackie or I wanted him to do. It was hard on mom after this happened. She had to work many long and hard hours to put me through college and Jackie through high school. We were tough. We made it.

I was playing softball the summer between my junior and senior year in college at Memorial Park Softball field. At the game my friends introduced me to a guy they knew by the name of Carroll “Buster” Schultz. He was there because he had helped build Memorial Field and I’m sure he thought we would hurt his field and he didn’t want us playing there. We dated all my senior year and he made many trips to Huntsville and Galena Park. We were married on June 6th, 1953 at Bethel Lutheran Church by Reverend Elton Darby.

After we were married he stated coaching little league football. He went back to school at the University of Houston and got his degree in teaching. He coached at Aldine Jr. High, Milby High School and the University of Houston.

I am so glad your dad lived until you were grown and helped me raise you. I have those five beautiful grandchildren and I wish they could have known their Grandpa Schultz. You know the rest. JoLynn, Bob, and Mike you were the love of our lives. I loved and participated in everything you did.

Your Loving Mother,

Joann Alford Schultz