Junior Dennis Shaffer

Rev. Junior Dennis “J.D.” Shaffer, 91, of Vienna, W.Va. was greeted by his Heavenly Father on February 2, 2013. He was born to Ira and Mona Shaffer on March 9, 1921 in Parsons, W.Va. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1940 and served in the United States Navy Seabees from 1943 through 1946. He served 33 months in the South Pacific working in the maintenance unit in New Caledonia, New Guinea, and the Admiralty Islands. He was stationed in the Philippines at the conclusion of World War II.He returned home from the war and soon married Merle Evelyn Lipscomb of Tucker County, W.Va. on June 1, 1947 at St. John's Methodist Church in Parsons. He was a graduate of WV Wesleyan (1952) and Candler School of Theology (Emory University) with a Masters of Divinity degree.He was ordained elder by Bishop Lloyd Wicke into the WV Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in 1957 and faithfully served the church for more than 45 years. He served numerous appointments throughout the WV Annual Conference, including St. John's United Methodist Church in Parsons and locally served Pennsboro – First Church, Wesley UM Church in Vienna, W.Va., Lauckport UM Church in Parkersburg, W.Va., Eureka UM in Belmont, W.Va. and as associate at Wayside UM in Vienna, W.Va. The current Pennsboro church was built during Rev. Shaffer's ministry.Rev. Shaffer was a member of the Romney, W.Va. Lions Club, Richwood Cherry River Navy, and served as Cub Scout Master. He also served on the Parkersburg District of Ordained Ministry and the WV Annual Conference Social Concerns Committee.He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Merle; children, Dennis (Ervaleen), Rich (Deborah), Robert, all of Parkersburg, W.Va., and Patti Butcher (Harry Ricker), of Anchorage, AK; grandchildren include Chad Butcher of Lexington, KY; Britni Spires of Anchorage, AK and Rodney Shaffer of Parkersburg, W.Va. He is also survived by his sister, Colene Kelly of Hagerstown, MD as well as numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Gladys Bonner and Geraldine Dize; and brother, Alfred Shaffer.Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 7, 2013 at Wayside United Methodist Church, Vienna, W.Va. with the Rev. Dr. T. Patrick Kerr, the Rev. Dr. Paul Russell and the Rev. Dr. Ken Krimmel officiating. Services will conclude with burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Parkersburg, W.Va. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, 3005 Grand Central Avenue, Vienna, W.Va. and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.Contributions may be made in Rev. Shaffer's memory to the Wayside Building Fund or the Good Samaritan Center at Wayside UM Church, 3001 Grand Central Ave., Vienna, WV 26105. Contributions may also be made to the American Cancer Society.