William Lafayette Shaffer, 79, of 1515 Jackson Ave., New Castle, passed away at 6:48 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Golden Hill Nursing Home.

Mr. Shaffer was born June 19, 1931 in Princeton, PA a son of the late William A. and Katherine M. Chesney Shaffer. He attended the former Eastbrook High School.

Bill served four years with the US Air Force during the Korean War as a fireman in the crash and rescue unit. He began his career with Columbia Gas Co. in 1958 as a laborer and retired in 1994 as a customer service representative, following 36 years with the company.

Bill was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Church, New Castle. He was also a member of the Laurel Lions Club; the American Legion, Post # 455, New Castle; and the Fraternal Order of the Eagle's, Aeries Lodge # 455, also New Castle.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Eleanor Annette Kelliher, whom he married July 29, 1958; two sons, Thomas W. Shaffer and his wife Gaila, Warrensburg, Missouri; and Tim E. Shaffer and his partner David Hobson, Fishers, Indiana; a sister, Roseanne Dunkerly and her husband Donald, Coral Springs, Florida; two brothers, Ralph Shaffer and his wife Agnes, New Castle; and Earl Shaffer, Savannah, Georgia; two granddaughters, Cortney Shaffer, Warrensburg, Missouri; and Megan Hopkins and her husband Robert, Honolulu, Hawaii; and a great granddaughter, Eleanor Hopkins, also Honolulu.

Besides his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a daughter, Teresa Ann Shaffer; and two brothers, James and David Shaffer.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th floor, New York, NY 10001; or to Jameson Hospice of Lawrence County, 1000 S. Mercer St., New Castle, PA 16101.

Calling hours and service are private in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 111 W. Falls St., New Castle. Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHome-andCrematory.com.

Interment: St. Joseph Cemetery, New Castle. 11047
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.