Christina Schleer Schulz died peacefully on March 24, 2017 in Greenbrae, CA at the age of 91. Chris was born in Hollister, CA in 1925, first daughter of Robert and Rose Schleer. She attended one-room Enterprise School on Fairview Road and graduated from San Benito County High School in 1945.
Chris married Hollister native, WWII veteran, Sheldon Schulz in 1948 while students together at UC Davis California. As an undergraduate, Chris was awarded the Farm Home Department Home Economics Scholarship given by the California Farm Bureau Federation and earned her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in 1949.
Chris and Shelly moved from Riverdale to Elk Grove in 1952 for Shelly’s teaching position at Elk Grove High School, where he taught math, agricultural education, metal and wood shop for 35 years. During the 1950s Chris and Shelly were members of Helter Skelter, the local theater group, co-writing scripts and performing in local productions together.
Chris was passionate about fiber and textile arts especially dyeing, weaving, knitting, quilting and art-to-wear; inspiring others and being a lifelong student. Chris joined the Sacramento Weavers and Spinners Guild in 1960 and co-authored The Handbook of Timesaving Tables for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. In 2006 she was inducted into the Guild’s Hall of Fame. Chris also co-authored A Sewer’s Handbook: Tables & Measures and was active in the Sacramento Center for the Textile Arts.
Chris joined the Elk Grove Book Club in 1992 and was an active member for twenty years. She served on the Executive Committee and as the Hospitality Chair in 1997 when the club celebrated its 60th anniversary. Her interest for biographies parlayed with her membership in the Elk Grove Historical Society and her love for books extended to book arts, taking workshops in book binding, and collecting books. She was wild about pop-up books and was a member of the Sacramento Book Arts Group.
Chris enjoyed collecting recipes, cooking, and baking; gardening and bird-watching; playing Bunco and getting together for Tipsy Tuesday with old friends. She loved visiting California galleries and museums and had a fondness for Asian and American Contemporary Art, closely following the careers of regional artists.
Chris will be remembered as a kind, elegant, aesthetic woman of few words, one who people listened to. She was an activist with a keen interest in politics and civic duty, having attended many town council meetings. She fought to preserve Lent Ranch land and to save the oak trees at the auto mall project, consistent with her lifelong passion for California native plants.
Chris treasured her 1958 custom-built home designed by Donald Thaden where she lived until 2015 and would regularly be seen on early morning walks in her neighborhood.
Chris is survived by sisters Violet Allen of Placerville, CA and Roberta Martin of San Mateo, CA; nephews Mitchell (Linda) Wright of Hollister, CA, Richard Wright of Cottonwood, CA, Carl (Janet) Martin of Burlingame, CA; niece Lynn (Matt) Brown of San Anselmo, CA; and many great-nieces and nephews. Chris was predeceased by her husband Shelly in 1991.
There was no funeral service held. Chris donated her body to UC Davis School of Medicine for the benefit of the students.
