Rose Marie Schultz, who was known as Tink, "loved all animals, especially horses," her family recalled. "She started riding around the age of 9, and you could always find her at Uncle George's farm in Springs or with Fanny Gardiner, working or riding horses."
She and her future husband, Billy Schultz, met as members of a local riding club called the Trail Blazers in the late '50s. She rode in timed events at shows here and across Long Island, and was crowned Rodeo Queen in 1959 at Frontier City Arena in Patchogue. She represented the Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden in cloverleaf barrel racing while riding her husband's roping horse, Ko Ko.
Mrs. Schultz died at home in Springs on May 29 of Alzheimer's disease. She was 85.
A Springs native, she was born in the hamlet on May 4, 1939, to Frank Alberta and the former Icydell Field, and grew up on Springs-Fireplace Road, graduating from the Springs School and East Hampton High School.
She played in a Thursday-night women's bowling league in East Hampton and in a traveling league as well. She also played softball, from the first year that a women's league was established here. Her team was the Springs Streakers.
The Schultzes belonged to Bonac Boots, a country line-dancing club in East Hampton. Mrs. Schultz also enjoyed gardening, went scalloping and fishing with her husband, and made their house a second home to many of their three daughters' friends.
She was a great traveler as well. Among the highlights of her travels were trips to Germany, Holland, Hawaii, and especially Italy, which she and a childhood friend, Cynthia Cook Bognolo, visited together at least seven times. Back home, she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion for more than 30 years.
She worked for five years for the New York Telephone Company, and also for the Whitman Gallery in East Hampton and as an admitting clerk and switchboard operator at Southampton Hospital.
Her husband survives, as do their daughters Barbara Ann Schultz of Wainscott and Lori Michelle Schultz of East Hampton. Her daughter Patricia Dee Schultz died before her. She also leaves two grandchildren, Joel and Hunter Kelsey, and two sisters, Fayette Parsons and Effie DeCristofaro, both of East Hampton. A third sister, Cecil Bennett, died some time ago.
Mrs. Schultz was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, where funeral services will be held on June 22 at 11:30 a.m. The family will receive visitors on Friday, June 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton.
The family has suggested memorial donations to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1408, Westhampton Beach 11978.
