Joy A. Schrage

(Aunt Joy)

December 12, 1935-August 7, 2026

Phenix City, AL

Joy Arrington Schrage 90, of Phenix City, AL passed away on August 7, 2026. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 3770 Highway 431 N, Phenix City, AL. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Lakeview Memory Gardens. Joy was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church in Phenix City.

Mrs. Schrage, the daughter of the late C.W. Arrington and Janie Fleming Arrington was born on December 12, 1935 in Clio, Al. She graduated from Central High School in 1954 as the class Salutatorian. She earned a B.S. degree from the University of Alabama in 1957, a M.S. degree from Auburn University in 1966 and a MSBA from Indiana University in 1983. In 1981, Joy was named one of 27 honorary professors at the University of Alabama in celebration of its Sesquicentennial Anniversary.

In 1968, Joy met and married David W. Schrage, the love of her life, in St. Joseph, MI. Dave died in 1997, after 29 years of marriage. On her marriage, Joy became a step-mother to Dave's three children-Kelliann, Drake and Suzanne. She helped Dave develop and operate his greenhouse and home building businesses while she was employed at Whirlpool Corporation.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Joy was preceded in death by her sisters, Shirley Parsons, brother-in-law Homer Parsons, Mary Bowers, brother-in-law Royce Bowers, her parents-in-law, Herman and Elsie Schrage of St. Joseph, Michigan, brother-in-law Donald Schrage and her beloved nephew Bill Bowers.

During her career, Joy held many positions: fabric designer at Avondale Mills; teacher at Jordan and Central High Schools; home service with Georgia Power Company; a recreation specialist from 1964 to 1966 with the Department of the Army in Korea and Kelly Hill at Fort Benning; an Extension specialist with Texas A & M University; and from 1968 to 1991, she held various management positions with Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, MI. After retiring from Whirlpool, Joy and Dave bought property on the backwaters in Harris County where she started a consulting business working with manufacturers of home appliances and cabinets. During this period, she held a position in Newspaper in Education at the Ledger-Enquirer newspaper.

Mrs. Schrage held elected positions in professional organizations and served on Advisory Boards for 6 universities. Her honors include: President Whirlpool Management Club in 1980-81, the first woman to be elected to this position; chair of the National Home Economists in Business in 1983; advisory council for Purdue University, College of Home Economics; Auburn University, College of Human Sciences; Cornell University, College of Human Ecology; University of Alabama, College of Human Environmental Sciences; Ohio State University, College of Consumer & Family Sciences; and the University of Georgia, College of Family & Consumer Sciences. In 1988, Joy was named outstanding business alumnus of Indiana University at South Bend. In 1989, she received the Sigma Xi distinguished service award for outstanding scientific achievements in developing educational programs for latchkey children and working with engineers to modify appliance designs and instructional materials for older Americans and people with disabilities. In 1991, she was named a distinguished alumnus of Auburn University College of Human Sciences. In 1998, she was named Woman of Distinction in Economic and Social Development by Soroptimist International, Columbus, GA chapter.

For a number of years Joy was an active member of the Friends of the Phenix City-Russell County Library, a volunteer who held both elected and appointed positions Mrs. Schrage earned a U.S. Patent for a Permanent Press Cycle for Whirlpool Washers, developed jointly with two engineers.

Joy is survived by her step-children: Kelliann Flores of Rosenberg, TX; Drake Schrage (Irma) of Arlington, TX; Suzanne Deliganis (Louis), Spring, TX; and 8 grandchildren, San, Tom, Chris, Isabel, Meg, Michael, Spencer and Larissa and two great granddaughters. She is also survived by 3 generations of much loved nieces and nephews: Greg Parsons (Anita); Lisa Bowers Alexander; Lee Bowers (Pam); Glenn Bowers (Sheila Hartford); and Tammy Phoenix (Roy): 10 great nieces and nephews, and 13 great-great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Joy's memory be made to First Presbyterian Church, 3310 101 Court, Phenix City, AL 36867. Friends of the Phenix City-Russell County Library, 1501 17 Avenue, Phenix City, AL 36867, or a charity of your choice.