Dr. J. David Schaffer, 91, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, in La Grange, Georgia. He is preceded in death by his late wife, Julia McCord Schaffer, and sons D. Matthew Schaffer and Jack S. Schaffer. He is survived by his spouse, Joyce Strickland Dervan of La Grange; sons, J. Rod Schaffer of Warner Robins, and Todd M. Schaffer of Wilmington, N.C.; 8 grandchildren, Ethan Schaffer, Grayson Schaffer, Joshua Schaffer, Lisa Anderson, Tori Cockman, Jessica Schaffer, Shawn Schaffer, and Sarah Schaffer; and 5 great grandchildren, Annaleece and Landon Schaffer, Piper Cockman, and Crawford and Hugh Anderson.
For over fifty years, he practiced veterinary medicine in South and Coastal Georgia. He served 12 years in the U. S. Army Reserve and saw active duty from 1951 to 1953, during the Korean Conflict era as a Veterinary Officer Rank of Captain. As an alumnus of the University of Maryland, as well as Auburn University, he achieved formal degrees of Doctor of Education and Master of Science by extension.
He held faculty positions at the University of Rhode Island, Casanova College, and Brunswick Junior College, as well as Teaching Assignments at Army Chemical Warfare School and Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Dr. Schaffer was first commander of the local Flotella of Coast Guard, Auxiliary Cofounder of the Coastal Audubon Club, and past President of the Rotary Club of McIntosh County. He served on the Board of Stewarts of the Island Methodist Church for five years and was Scout Master of Island Troop 227.
In his lifelong interest in continuing his education, he modestly admitted to being an ordained minister by the Progressive Universalist Church. After moving to LaGrange, Georgia, he joined the First Baptist Church, yet retained associate membership with his beloved Island Methodist Church on St. Simons Island. At age ninety, he was still practicing Veterinary medicine in the role of “Relief Duty Veterinarian.”
There will be a graveside service at Christ Church, Saturday, October 19, 2013, at 11:00, where his crypt is inscribed, “Still in Practice, moved upstairs.”
Arrangements are under the direction of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home, www.edomillerandsons.com .
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18