Kathy A. Schmidt

1949 - 2018

Kathy A. (Stadelbauer) Schmidt, beloved wife of Raymond E. Schmidt, of Pigeon Hill Cove Ext, Hopkinton passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at the age of 68. She was born September 22, 1949 in Providence to Rantsford Henry Stadelbauer, Sr. and Helen Ann Paplauskas. She graduated from Mount Pleasant High School, in Providence, June 15, 1967. Kathy has called Hopkinton home since 1986, but because of her military connections with both her father and husband, she liked to say "I am a product of the United States". She either visited or lived in 49 of our 50 states - Alaska being the only hold out!

Kathy was very proud of the fact that as an Army child while her father was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, she was able to participate, August 1959, in the Hawaiian Statehood celebrations and parade.

While Kathy held many jobs through the years, waitress, cashier, security guard, secretary, it was her work as a volunteer that made her happiest. She was Ombudsman for Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 16 (HM-16) from September 1979 - April 1981 and during the 1980 Iranian Hostage Rescue Attempt which earned her the prestigious Civilian Meritorious Unit Commendation.

She was a Literacy Volunteers of America - English as a Second Language Tutor, Westerly and is directly responsible for two persons becoming United States Citizens. She was a Volunteer Exhibitor for the Adaptive Equipment Loan Program (ATEL) from 1995-2014.

On May 17, 2003 she became the first woman and only the second non-fire person to sit as an Ashaway Fire District Commissioner and on September 19, 2006 she was elected as the first non-fire person to sit as Chairperson. She served until September 2014. She fought hard and long to get ownership of the Fire Station turned over to the taxpayers of the Ashaway Fire District.

She served on several committees for the Ashaway Fire District and for the Town of Hopkinton. She ran the St. Jude's Children's Hospital Cancer Raffle for May and November 2001 - 2006 and averaged $2000.00 per raffle.

Kathy was the first deaf juror to be seated on a jury in Rhode Island.

In 2004 Kathy realized a life dream to visit China and walk the Great Wall. She returned to China in 2007 and visited Hong Kong.

In September 2006 Kathy realized another life's dream and took an untethered Hot Air Balloon ride. They went above 10,000 feet and broke through the clouds. She never again looked at clouds in a mundane way after that ride!

In addition to her husband; she leaves 4 beloved daughters: Hannah Zeng and her husband Huy Tran; Erica Zeng and her husband Wen Feng Zhen; Qi Xia Zeng and her husband Yan Hua Liu and Qi Zia Zeng and her husband Yan Hua Liu as well as 12 grandchildren: Emily, Selina, Annaka, Adam, Kelly, Hong, Hao, John, Kai, Mandy, Raymond and Stephen.

Funeral services will be private and by invitation only. There are no calling hours and burial will be at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter.

For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com