Georgia Joan Heindselman Schofield

Georgia Joan Heindselman Schofield, 98, was born on May 15, 1925, in Provo, Utah, and died Feb 7, 2024, in Salt Lake City, UT. In going through mom’s personal effects, we found the following obituary she had written for herself. We added a few things here and there, but the following is her recounting of her life.

Written on Monday March 7, 2005, by Georgia Joan Schofield

I was born May 15, 1925, in Provo, Utah, at home as no one in those days went to the hospital to give birth. Mother did have a physician, not a midwife in attendance. My father was George Hayden Heindselman. My mother was Clara Dee Henrie Heindselman. I had two sisters, Erma Dee Robley and Flo Della Redden, who were 18 and 14 years old respectively at my birth. I was loved, pampered and spoiled.

I went to BYU (Brigham Young University) Training Center for elementary school, BYU Junior High, and Provo High School. I graduated from high school in 1943. After high school, I attended Brigham Young University. After two years of college, during World War II, I interrupted my education to study music (singing and piano) in San Francisco, California for a year. I very much enjoyed performing for churches and other groups. In 1944, I returned to BYU for about two more years. I was within one quarter of graduating when I married my high school sweetheart, John (Jack) Warren Schofield in Provo, Utah on September 14, 1947. We immediately moved to San Francisco, CA where Jack attended Physicians and Surgeons Dental College.

I worked for AT&T in San Francisco as a service representative for a year. The office was in the penthouse of the Whitcomb Hotel on Market Street. From my desk I could see the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. It was a glorious place to work as I could see ships coming into port and leaving. Once I saw a submarine coming in. After a year I worked for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as a secretary on Market Street. I always felt our four years in San Francisco was a long honeymoon. I loved every minute.

In June 1951, after Jack graduated from dental school we moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. We had four children.

I had a wonderful life, filled with love, joy and many adventures. Jack was always dreaming up the next camping trip, 4-wheel drive trip, ski adventure, boating on Lake Powell, car trips around the west, and star gazing outings to name a few. Jack and I enjoyed most of our adventures as a family, always heading out together whenever possible. And even though I did not particularly enjoy camping or skiing, I tried to be a good sport about it. When it got to be too much, we would head to a motel and a restaurant for dinner! One time I remember was having dinner in a small-town diner, and even our little dog Ursa sat with us at the table. Jack was somehow able to convince them it was ok and normal to order a burger for your dog!

I loved being a homemaker and mother. Baking cookies and making caramel candies were my specialties. I tried to gather everyone together each night for dinner, making at least one new recipe a week.

Jack died in 1982, and so I had to reinvent myself to be self-reliant and strong. Over the years I have enjoyed a wonderful group of friends; I was a member of a long-lived literary club – The Ex Libris-Club of Salt Lake City, and thoroughly enjoyed playing in various bridge clubs where I met and loved many close friends.

Survived by children: Theodore John Schofield (Cynthia), Brooke Dee Fisher (Carl (deceased)), Leslie Ann Tomlin (Scott), and my special nephew Andrew Schofield (Kelly).
Grandchildren: Tenley Schofield, Brett Schofield (Kate), Calista Fisher Grant (Wiley), Bryson Fisher (Erikka), Landon Fisher (Sarah), Nicole Tomlin, Stephanie Tomlin (Sam Warrick), Jared Tomlin (Caitlyn Morse). And three great grandchildren, Liam, Grady, and Diana Grant

Preceded in death by husband, parents, sisters Flo Della Redden, Erma Dee Robley, brother-in-law Paul Robley, and son Brian George Schofield.

We want to thank the staff of The Abbington assisted living facility in Murray for their loving care.

Interment: Larkin Sunset Lawn Mausoleum next to my husband.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.