Gerald "Jerry" Francis Shaver

SHAVER, Gerald F. “Jerry,” 93, of Palm Harbor, Florida and formerly of Pinellas Park, Florida, went to be with his Lord July 20, 2016 at Suncoast Hospice Brookside in Palm Harbor after a long illness. He was born August 31, 1922 in Huntington Township, Ohio, the youngest of eight children of William and Bessie (Bannister) Shaver. He was a graduate of Charleston High School in Charleston West Virginia. Gerald met the love of his life, Eileen Mae Shaver, while they were in high school, and they were married on December 4, 1944 on his fourth furlough at 4:00 in the afternoon. He was a veteran of World War II having served in the Army Air Corps seeing action on Iwo Jima and Saipan.

Gerald was retired but had previously worked as a body mechanic for Atlantic Greyhound in Charleston, a chemical operator for Union Carbide in Charleston, an insurance salesman for Equitable Life Insurance in Charleston and St. Petersburg, Florida, and a security guard at Northside Hospital, St. Petersburg. From 1957 – 1965 he was involved in the Scouting program in Charleston, West Virginia organizing Boy Scout Troop #120. He served as their first Scoutmaster and later organized Explorer Post #120 becoming their first Explorer Advisor. He was also a deacon at Rebecca Littlepage Presbyterian Church, Charleston. Gerald and Eileen moved from Charleston, West Virginia to Pinellas Park, Florida in 1965. In Florida he was a member of the West Virginia Society and the St. Petersburg Senior Citizens. During his life Gerald was a dedicated Christian and a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather known for his unending sense of humor.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of seventy and a half years, Eileen Mae (Shamblin) Shaver, and daughter, Barbara Ann Shaver. Survivors include sons, Jerry L. Shaver, and his wife Mary, and David Alan Shaver; grandchildren, Susan Tumey and John Shaver; and great grandchildren, Isabel, Samantha, Hannah, and Sarah.

Visitation held Saturday, July 30, 2016 from 12:00 pm until service time at 1:00 pm and military honors at Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest privately at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.

Funeral arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st St. Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.