William M. "Bill" Shaffer, Whispering Oaks, 260 S. Buhl Farm Dr., Hermitage; formerly a longtime resident of Sharon-Bedford Rd., Shenango Township, passed away peacefully at 8:35 a.m. Wednesday (2-16-11) in Nugent Convalescent Home, Hermitage, where he was a patient for the past four months. He was 92.

Mr. Shaffer was born May 18, 1918 in Oil City, PA a son of the late Clifford W. and Hazel Sibble Shaffer.

He attended the former Cranberry High School, Seneca, PA and graduated with honors from Coyne Electrical School, Chicago.

Bill served with the US Navy during WW II in the N. Atlantic aboard the USS William T. Powell as a Sound Man Third Class. Following the war he was employed as an electrical tester at the former Sharon Transformer Division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation for 38 years, retiring in 1980.

He was a charter member of IHS Gospel Ministries, Hermitage. Bill had many interests and enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, photography and traveling. He also liked chopping wood and, following his retirement, owned and operated Bill's Better-N-Bens Wood Stoves from his home. He was a Ham Radio operator for many years with call letters K3ITE.

Surviving are: his wife of 71 years and his high school sweetheart, the former Mary Jane Irwin, whom he married August 18, 1939 in Erie, PA; three daughters, Jean L. Rolffs and her husband James, Centerville, Ohio; Sue A. Muscarella and her husband Joseph, Pulaski (Lawrence County), PA; and Lori L. Johnson and her husband James, Sharon; seven grandchildren, Dana Jo Triantis and her husband Sam, Carlsbad, CA; Diana Lea Idia and her husband Robert, Hermosa Beach, CA; Jason Mausser and his wife Tracy, also Hermosa Beach; Mariann Maust and her husband Alex, Circleville, Ohio; Mikhael Lynn Rolffs, E. Rochester, NY; Joseph Muscarella, Pulaski; and Anta Brucker and her husband Shawn, Neshannock Township (Lawrence County), PA; five great grandchildren, Danielle, Stephen, Devin, Shane and Lainey; three sisters-in-law, Pauline Shaffer, Cranberry (Venango County), PA; Donna Shaffer, Seneca, PA; and Ann Kapp, Shippenville, PA; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a daughter, Judith L. Shaffer Mausser Cooper (formerly of Palm Springs, CA); two brothers, Shurl S. Shaffer (formerly of Cranberry (Venango County), PA); and Charles E. Shaffer (formerly of Seneca, PA); and a beloved sister-in-law, Phyllis Ruth Morrison, (formerly of Emlenton, PA).

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Alzheimer's Association.

Calling hours will be from 4-7 p.m. Sunday (2-20-11) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday (2-21-11) in IHS Gospel Ministries, Hermitage, with the Rev. C. Charles Eckles, pastor, officiating.

Interment: Evergreen Cemetery, New Bedford, PA.