George D. Shaffer

George D. Shaffer, 82, passed away December 16, 2012 to be with his loving Lord and Savior. He was born January 6, 1930 to Reverend George D. Shaffer and Christine in Riverside, CA. He served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years of which he served during the Korean and Vietnam War. His first duty in the Navy was submarines, then destroyers and finally helicopters. He retired as Master Chief in 1968. He continued to work and stay busy. His first job was with Traco at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. for 5 years. After that, he went to work for Bendix Corp in Sylmar, CA. He was then sent to Jacksonville, FL where he worked with the U.S. Navy and also met and married the love of his life, Sara at Lakeshore United Methodist Church on January 18, 1975. He went on carrier cruises out of Jacksonville to maintain sonar equipment. He retired in 1992 from what was known as Allied Signal, but now known as Honeywell. He loved to travel, go on cruises, bowling, dancing and golf. He enjoyed his church, Lakeshore United Methodist. He was a member of the Morrocco Shrine golf association where he was the handicap chairman for 30 years. He made many trips to assist transporting crippled children to the Tampa Shriners Hospital and also cartoon capers as Mickey Mouse. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 7909, member of American Legion Post 137, the Fleet Reserve on Collins Road as well as the Masonic Lodge on Westconnett. He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Sara, two sons, Charlie (Judy) of Tennessee, Mark (Sue) of New York, one sister Reverend Edith Heard of Wisconsin, four inherited children, Carol Osburg, of Dunedin, Florida, Larry Long (deceased), Jana Jolly, Jacksonville, FL, Ray W. Long, Jacksonville, FL, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews. Arrangements under the care of Hardage-Giddens Town & Country Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32205. Family will meet friends and family for a visitation on Thursday, December 20, 2012 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Funeral services will follow visitation at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel. Interment to follow services at Riverside Memorial Park.