Robert Carol Shaeffer was called home to be with his Lord on October 8, 2016. Robert and God had an agreement that he would go peacefully in his sleep and God kept his end of the bargain. He passed away due to complications of Congestive heart Failure at age 91.
Robert had lived a full life filled with love. Born in Maryland, he enlisted in the Army at age 17 and served as a tank driver in WWII. When he returned, he met and married the love of his life, Grace. Together, they had 3 children, Linda, Robert and Patricia and one granddaughter, Vicki that they raised as their own.
He made his way to Indiana with his employer, Allegheny Ludlum, where he worked as a steel roll grinder and, ultimately, a supervisor and trainer. In addition to to his work at Allegheny, he was also a very accomplished gardener. He had quite the green thumb and grew the most magnificent ivy anyone had ever seen. He retired in 1990 and spent the remainder of his days serving as a chaplain, something he truly felt was his calling. Robert visited the elderly in New Castle and surrounding areas spreading messages of God’s everlasting love. The last 9 ½ years he regularly conducted services at Glen Oaks. He was revered as a compassionate, generous and funny individual who will be missed by all who knew him.
Robert was preceded in death by his wife, his beloved “Gracie”, his daughter, Linda. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Partin; son, Robert T. Shaeffer; granddaughter, Vicki McCorkle, who he lovingly referred to a his “best girl” and her husband, Shane; great-grandchildren, Krystyna (Matt) Biggs, Hayley (Ryan) Guffey and Damien Upchurch; two great-great grandchildren, Korbyn and Addyson, as well as more friends than he could count.
Please join his family to celebrate his amazing life at the Four Square Church in New Castle from 12 noon until 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 14, 2016. In lieu of gifts, the family asks that a flower be planted in his memory so that others may appreciate God’s gift of new life as he did.