New Comer Family Obituaries - Don Warren Shaffer 1929 - 2017 - Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions

Obituary photo of Don Shaffer, Titusville-FL

In Loving Memory of

Don Warren Shaffer

1929 - 2017

In Loving Memory of

Don Warren Shaffer

1929 - 2017

Services & Gatherings

Service:

Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 11:00am
First United Methodist Church of Oviedo, 263 King Street, Oviedo FL 32765

Newcomer - E. Orlando Chapel (407-277-4227) is assisting the family

Lt. Colonel Don W. Shaffer, Sr., ARMY (Ret.) of Oviedo FL, was called home by his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, August 8th, 2017. Don was born in Melbourne, Florida, on July 24, 1929, the second of three sons born to the late Charles G. and Jessie A. Shaffer. He attended Melbourne public schools through the eleventh grade and moved to Oviedo, Florida in July 1946 when his father was appointed Cashier of the newly chartered Citizens Bank of Oviedo.

Don graduated from Oviedo High School in June 1947, where he lettered in basketball and baseball, the only two sports the school offered at that time. He received a Florida House of Representative scholarship, which he used to attend the University of Florida (UF). He graduated on June 11, 1951 with a degree in Physical Education.

While at UF, he played on the freshman basketball team and during his sophomore year, he played on the varsity basketball team. He switched to the baseball team and lettered during his junior and senior years while playing shortstop for the GATORS. In his senior year, he was presented the Dean D. K. Stanley Award for outstanding achievements in Scholarship, Athletics, and Organizations. Don was also active in the ROTC Program.

He was a member of Pershing Rifles and the Scabbard and Blade Honor Society. In his senior year, he was designated a Distinguished Military Graduate, which offered a commission into the Regular Army upon graduation. He accepted and was commissioned 2nd Lt, Artillery, Regular Army, on June 15th, 1951.

During his 28+ years of service to his country, he served overseas on five occasions: Occupation of Germany 1952-55; Korea 1961-62; Germany 1964-66; Vietnam 1966 -67; and Thailand 1972-73. His wife and sons accompanied him when he was assigned to Germany in 1964 and when he was assigned to Thailand in 1972. He retired as a Lt. Colonel on August 1st, 1979.

His awards and decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Occupation of Germany Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Vietnam Service Ribbon with two campaign stars, the Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Honor Medal First Class presented to him by the Republic of Vietnam.

He married Barbara Lee, an Oviedo native, in the Foster Chapel United Methodist Church, on August 2, 1952, and they had two sons, Don W. II and Thomas L. Don was employed by the Citizens Bank of Oviedo as Purchasing Agent, Accounts Payable and ATM Coordinator from September 1979 until he retired in January 1999.

He has been a member of the First United Methodist Church of Oviedo since August 1947, where he served as Financial Secretary of the church from 1980 to 1991 and Membership Secretary from 1992 to July 2014. He was a charter member of Oviedo VFW Post 10129, founded in 1980, and served as its Quartermaster until 1984 when he resigned from the Post. For a short time, he was a member of the Oviedo American Legion Post. He enjoyed playing golf and was a founding member, in 1989, of the Ekana Golf and Country Club, now known as Twin Rivers Golf Club. After having left knee replacement in 2005, he was no longer able to play golf.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Dr. Don W. Shaffer II of Marietta GA, and Thomas Lee Shaffer of Oviedo; brother, Dr. Robert L. Shaffer of Orlando FL; daughter-in-law, Carol Shaffer of Marietta, GA; three grandsons, Aaron, James, and Matthew Shaffer, and brother-in-law Glenn Lee of Las Vegas, NV.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at 11:00AM, Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church of Oviedo.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Don to: the Building Fund of the First United Methodist Church of Oviedo, 263 King Street, Oviedo FL 32765.

To share a special memory of Don or to leave a message for the family, please click "Share Memories".

Services & Gatherings

Service:

Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 11:00am
First United Methodist Church of Oviedo, 263 King Street, Oviedo FL 32765

Newcomer - E. Orlando Chapel (407-277-4227) is assisting the family

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Memories & Condolences

Mr. Shaffer was such an encouragement to me after I got married and we were starting to get involved with church. He was the attendance guru, and we had missed a couple of weeks to visit family, so we got a call bright and early Monday morning from him asking if we were ok. Though we were genuinely gone, he offered up some sage advice all the same: Show up to church. Together. Every week. Everything else will fall into place if you do that. Wise words!!

~ Megan Sladek - August 15, 2017

Don and I would travel to UCF to balance the ATM when it was out there. And I remember visiting him in the hospital once and he never forgot that I came to see him. He was very appreciative. I enjoyed working with him at Citizens Bank of OVIEDO now Citizens Bank of Florida. God Bless the family during this time. My prayers and thoughts are with you!

~ Jessica Olson - August 14, 2017

We are keeping your family in our prayers. Don was a faithful servant of God and country. Our thoughts will be with you all as you celebrate his life on Tuesday.

Peace,
John and Sharon Powers

~ John and Sharon Powers - August 14, 2017

Some of the things that I remember about Don.....
Don was a faithful to the Methodist Church in his attendance and his talents. He was a willing helper to Barbara, with all the volunteer jobs that she had. Don helped with the Oviedo Woman's Club every Great Day.
He served his Country well in times of conflict and peace; taking his family with him whenever he could. He was a true blue Gator Fan and loved the game of softball; he even coached a team of guys for the Methodist Church when they won the championship. Whenever I received a postage stamp that was "different" or from another country, I would take it to Don; he had an extensive stamp collection. Above all; he loved Barbara, his boys and his grandsons.
Gwen Szelc

~ Gwen Szelc - August 14, 2017

Sending prayers to the Shaffers. I have fond memories of Don at church, he was always a pleasure. So glad to have been able to have met him!
Angela Relyea

~ Angela Relyea - August 13, 2017

I will truely miss the security of my fathers presence in my life. His wisdom and cool head prevailed in adversity and everything seemed to work itself out under his umbrella.
Now I must steer the ship, alone without him and care for my mother. I will have my brother & Uncle to lean on, but it's not the same as having my dad there, who always knew what I was thinking. He loved God and the church and touch more lives than we truely will every know. Stay the course. Tom Shaffer

~ Tom Shaffer - August 12, 2017

I had the privilege to work with Don at Citizens Bank of Florida and he was a true American Patriot.

~ Gloria Dunmire - August 11, 2017