William “Bill” Lionel Shaffer, 68, of Lake Monticello, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, at his home, surrounded by family and his pastor, after a sudden diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Bill was born March 6, 1950, in Abington Township in Montgomery County, Penn. He was the son of the late Lionel “Bud” Shaffer and Nelmah (Faust) Shaffer. He was also predeceased by his brother Robert Shaffer.
Bill graduated from Upper Dublin High School (1968) and Penn State University (1972). He enjoyed the challenges of his first career in human resources with UNISYS/Sperry Corporation, but with time he realized that his true life’s vocation was learning and tackling challenges in computer systems integration. He shared his talents with a number of nonprofits, including the American Society of Travel Agents, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Cancer Support Community/The Wellness Community.
Along with cherishing any opportunity to spend time with his family, Bill enjoyed sharing his God-given talent of singing – beginning with the Penn State Concert Choir, various churches, and the Cathedral Choral Society – and most recently in worship at South Plains Presbyterian Church in Keswick, Va., and at the church’s weekly worship and music outreach at Heritage Inn Assisted Living. His was the voice you turned around for when the congregation started singing. Bill also had a lifelong love for piano and orchestral music, and cheering on the Penn State wrestling team. (Go Penn State!) He cherished each day of his retirement with his beloved wife, Barbara, at Lake Monticello, actively involved with broadcast productions with the Lake Monticello Broadcast Group, bridge group, choir rehearsals, developing websites for local nonprofits, photographing birds and deer, marveling at glorious sunrises and sunsets, cherishing his and Barbara’s rescue dogs and tuxedo cats, and sitting with his feet in the sand at Beach 3.
Survivors include his wife of almost 13 years, Barbara Ann Shaffer of Lake Monticello; three children: Jason Shaffer (Karen) of Huntersville, N.C., Stephen Shaffer (Chrystyna Dail) of Ithaca, N.Y., and Andrea Trevino (Gabriel) of Alexandria, Va.; two step-children: Natalie Apseloff (Charlie McDonough) of Richmond, Va., and Nicholas Apseloff of Washington, D.C.; five grandchildren: Erika Ventry, Gabe Ventry, Lelia Shaffer, Emma Shaffer, and Zoe Shaffer; his sister Nancy Shaffer (Greg McFetridge) of Lake Monticello; and numerous extended family and friends.
A Celebration of Bill’s Life and Witness to the Resurrection will be held Saturday, March 2, 2019, at 2 p.m. at South Plains Presbyterian Church in Keswick, Va.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to South Plains Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 277, Keswick, Va., 22947, or Caring for Creatures, 352 Sanctuary Lane, Palmyra, Va., 22963.