Robert Eugene Shaffer's Obituary
Robert E. Shaffer, 81, most loved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away Sunday evening on September 2, 2012, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He had been living with the disease of dementia since 2007. Robert was born on December 14, 1930 to John H. and Verma K. Shaffer in Gridley, Kansas. He attended school there until 1945, when the family moved to Madison, Kansas, and graduated from Madison High School in 1949. During his high school days Robert was an outstanding athlete and participated in football, basketball, and track. Because of previously living in Gridley, he was quickly nicknamed “Gridley” Shaffer. He earned a scholarship for football at Emporia State College, in Emporia, Kansas. Robert married Patricia J. Durant on November 17, l950, at Wichita, Kansas. At that time, Robert was employed by the Wichita Water Company. In l951, he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps for the Korean War. He spent two years at the El Toro Base, in El Toro, California as an aircraft mechanic/electrician. Robert and Pat returned to Wichita in December of 1953, where they later purchased the family’s first home on Greenway Blvd. Because of his aircraft mechanic/electrician training in the Marine Corps, he was hired to work for Boeing Airplane Company. From l953 through l962 he became the father of four children, and resided there, (except for 6 months in Seattle, Washington for the Boeing Company) until l969. The family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1969, where he was employed by American Air Lines and retired from there in l993. Due to lay offs from American Air Lines from time to time, he also worked at Braden Steel, McDonnell-Douglas and Southwest Porcelain Co. He and Pat purchased their second family home in Tulsa where he resided until his passing. Upon retiring, he purchased a motorhome and he and his wife traveled extensively over the United States. They joined the Holiday Rambler Recreational Club and attended rallies in many different states as well. . Robert is survived by his wife, Pat; a daughter, Janet Shaffer, of Tulsa; a daughter, Diane Huffman and her husband, Gerald Huffman of Coweta, OK; a daughter, Beverly Shaffer of Tulsa; seven grandchildren, Amy, Christy, Josh, Tyler, Brooke, Casey and Cole; five great grandchildren – Dakota, Cheyenne, Libby, Logan and Lyla. He was preceded in death by his son, Larry, one sister, Barbara Nunnold and his parents. Robert was a devoted family man and because of his love of water sports, camping and traveling – the family spent a lot of time on the lake and the grandkids were included in all of these activities. Robert enjoyed providing his children and his grandchildren with family vacations such as snow skiing, visits to the ocean, the Grand Canyon and trips to major amusement parks. He inspired in his family the values of responsibility and always being there for others. He was a do-it-yourselfer kind of man, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t try to fix. Also, was always willing to help others at any time, for any kind of task. He will be missed greatly by family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to the Alzheimer's Association. Funeral Service to be held 12:30 p.m., Friday, September 7, 2012 at the Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.
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