George Thomas Schaab Jr.

George Thomas Schaab Jr., born on February 2, 1929, fondly joked that his birthday fell on “Groundhog Day.” He passed away just two days shy of his 97th birthday. George was born and raised in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the third of five children, with three brothers and two sisters. He was always proud of his heritage and a devoted supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles. When visitors came from Philadelphia, he never failed to request a Philadelphia pretzel, a hoagie, or a steak and cheese. George was also deeply committed to preserving his family history, spending many years researching both his maternal and paternal roots.

George was a deeply patriotic man who enlisted in the U.S. Army at just 17 years old, proudly noting that he did so with his mother’s permission. After returning home 18 months later, he completed high school. Upon graduation, he re-enlisted at the age of 19 and served a distinguished 22-year military career. George retired from Fort Meade, Maryland, having been deployed to Asia and stationed throughout his service in New York, Washington, Virginia, California, and France. While stationed in France, he met his beloved wife, Denise. They married in 1952 and had 2 daughters, Corinne and Michelle.

During his Army career, George held numerous positions, advancing from his early years as a private to the rank of Staff Sergeant. His roles included being a translator and intelligence analyst, among others, reflecting his commitment to service. Over the course of his service, he received numerous honors and achievement awards, including the World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam), Vietnam Campaign Medal ,Vietnam Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), Expert Rifle Badge, and the Soldier’s Medal. https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-142606/

A strong believer in higher education, George continued to pursue his own academic goals, diligently taking courses and earning college degrees while serving in the military. He had a lifelong passion for American history focused particularly on the Civil War and the United States Constitution. George could often be found in the early hours of the morning quietly reading the stories and lessons of the past. After retiring from the Army in 1968, he became a staff member at the George G. Meade Army Education Center. There, he worked as a counselor administering and implementing the General Education Development Program, supporting military personnel. George naturally acted as a counselor and coach to youth, drawing on both his life experience in private and public conversations. He also dedicated his time at his daughters’ high school, serving as a track and field coach. Throughout his life, George remained committed to encouraging the younger generations to pursue their educational goals, both in civilian life and through military service.

George spent 58 years in the Laurel area, never forgetting his Philadelphia roots. His retirement years were fulfilling, marked by the establishment of a private lighting business and his deep dedication to the American Legion. A member in good standing for more than 70 years, he served as Legion commander for approximately ten years, devoting himself to helping others and creating meaningful programs. In his later years, George continued to chair and attend both official and informal Legion meetings, always committed to supporting and guiding those in positions of responsibility.

George enjoyed being active in his community and loved participating in social and community activities. He attended events at the American Legion, in Washington, D.C., and nationally. For many years, he also faithfully gathered with friends every Friday for lunch and drinks, where conversations often revolved around sports, shared jokes, and, inevitably, Irish and Philadelphia stories.

Visitors were always warmly welcomed to George’s home. He often hosted his wife’s French relatives, taking them on tours of Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia while sharing his knowledge of American history. He also delighted indulging in crabs and local specialties, as well as sampling regional and national wines. George’s interests included researching and documenting his Irish, Swedish and German family history including contributions to an ancestry website. His passion for genealogy also led him to visit Schaab relatives in Chicago and Washington State. His brother Roy and his wife were frequent visitors to his home.

His daughter often commented on his exceptional memory, particularly for family occasions and historical events. He would often reminisce about his youth, recalling siblings and relatives who had been part of his life growing up. He was a bookworm but also a bibliophile. George was opinionated, intelligent, humble, and cultured, with a deep appreciation for cultural diversity. He was respectful of others, caring toward the environment, and had a profound love for animals. His grandchildren would describe him as wise, compassionate, resilient, thoughtful, and encouraging—always looking out for others. His younger great-grandchildren would say he was talkative and loved asking them questions, while the older one describes him as a devoted family man and admirable role model. George was also very caring toward his caregivers and therapists in his later years, spending time retelling stories and appreciating their personal and professional help. His humor, warmth, and friendly manner will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

George was the patriarch of the Schaab family. He is survived by his daughter, Corinne Schaab Codjoe, and his son-in-law, Theophilus Codjoe; his grandchildren, Jeremy Q. Codjoe, Angela D. Codjoe, Alexandra M. Codjoe, Stephanie R. Brown, Stacy M. Harvey and their spouses as well as nine great-grandchildren. He took great pride in spending time with and staying connected to his nieces and nephews. George was predeceased by his beloved wife, Denise L. Schaab; his daughter, Michelle Emma Schaab Brown; his brothers, Albert and Roy Schaab; and his sisters, Marie (Schaab) Radar and Doris (Schaab) Adams.