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- Obituary:
Major Richard "Tracer" Walter Schafer, III
October 30, 1978 - August 31, 2014
Rick was born October 30, 1978 in Houston, TX to Richard W. Schafer Jr. and Margaret Elizabeth White Schafer. He married Ashley Thornton Schafer on July 7, 2001.
A native of Austin, TX, Rick attended Bowie High, where he initiated the school's ROTC program, lettered in football as the team's fullback, and graduated in the top five percent of his class in 1997. Rick went on to graduate from the United States Air Force Academy in 2001 as a member of the 18th squadron "Knight Riders". He then attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB, TX where he graduated at the top of his class in 2002.
"Tracer", as he was known to his fellow pilots, was a decorated Air Force Veteran: with over 2,000 flight hours in the F-16 and T-38. He attended training for the F-16 at Luke AFB, AZ in 2003. He went on to fly F-16s in the 555th Fighter Squadron, the "Triple Nickel", in Aviano Air Base, Italy. With the "Triple Nickel" he flew combat missions over Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. "Tracer" then served as an Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals instructor pilot at Moody AFB, GA; Sheppard AFB, TX; and twice at Columbus AFB, MS, where he excelled in preparing future pilots for combat. Rick also served as Safety Officer while deployed to Ali Air Base, Iraq, was a graduate of Air Command and Staff College and Squadron Officers School.
Rick was an accomplished aircraft builder and pilot, skilled woodworker, an expert in home remodeling and welding and loved to hunt. Always outgoing and upbeat, he had a lasting impact on everyone he met. Avery and Rachel's Daddy participated in every aspect of their lives including reading Bible stories, playing dress-up and teaching them how to use their pink BB guns safely. Rick and Ashley were high school sweethearts and were married for 13 amazing years and they are members of Columbus Church of Christ in Columbus, MS.
Rick passed away August 31, 2014, along with his brother Matthew Taylor Schafer, in a small plane crash outside of Abilene Texas. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ashley and daughters Avery and Rachel; parents, Richard W. Schafer, Jr. and Beth White Schafer; sister, Stephanie Taylor and her husband Brad and children, Preston, Brooke and Mason; sister-in-law Victoria Schafer and children Wyatt and John Luke, parents-in-law, Ken and Cheryl Thornton; sister-in-law, Amy Eskew and her husband, Trey and daughters Aliyah and Milan; grandfather, Richard Walter Schafer, Sr. and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Funeral Services will be held 9:00AM, Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel and Cemetery.
Additional memorial services will take place in Austin, TX at Westover Hills Church of Christ on September 13, 2014 at 3:00PM and in Columbus, MS at the Memorial Plaza, Columbus Air Force Base on September 19, 2014 at 2:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, consider supporting the family by donating through www.giveforward.com and search for Major Rick "Tracer" Schafer.
(Published in The Austin American-Statesman from September 9 to September 10, 2014)
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1978 - 2014 (35 years)
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