Obituary of Edwin Shaffer

Edwin G. Shaffer, age 91, of Cheshire entered into rest on Friday, February 21, 2014 at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury. He is the devoted husband of June Langdon Shaffer and has been a Cheshire resident for 57 years. Ed was born June 16, 1922 in Matamoras, PA, son of the late Gaylon W. and Sophia Kesting Shaffer. Ed graduated from Matamoras High School and soon after moved to Connecticut and worked up until he was drafted in 1943 into the US Army, HQ Division G, 771st Anti Tank Battalion. He served at Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe, and spent his last day of active duty in Austria on December 2, 1945. After serving his country with pride and honor, he returned to Pennsylvania and attended Hempel's Diesel Mechanic School in New York City. In 1947 he met the love of his life, June. After school Ed returned to Connecticut and gained employment with H.O. Penn, in Newington, where he worked as an on the road heavy duty equipment diesel mechanic. At the time, June still lived in Brooklyn, NY, so she and Ed carried out a "long distance romance". November 1, 1952 they were married and moved to Hartford and in 1957 relocated to Cheshire and started their family. Ed, June and their boys loved to go camping during the summers. He was a member of the Union Local 478 in Hamden, the IUOE (International Union of Operating Engineers), and Cheshire Lutheran Church. He retired in 1992, but soon took a part time job with the Town of Cheshire as a bus driver for the Senior Center and later the Superintendent. While semi-retired, he and June would spend three winter months a year in their travel trailer in Florida. In 2010 Ed retired from the town, at the age of 88. Besides his loving wife, June, Ed is survived by his son's Paul Shaffer of Cheshire and Thomas Shaffer and his wife Mandi of Henderson, NV; his cherished granddaughter Paige Shaffer of Henderson, NV and many nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania, Long Island and New York. He was predeceased by his daughter in law Danielle Shaffer. A Funeral Service for Edwin will be held on Monday, June 16, 2014 at 11AM at the State Veterans Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown. Burial will follow with Full Military Honors. At the request of his family memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire has been entrusted with his arrangements. To view these arrangements online, leave condolences for the family or share a story please visit www.aldersonfuneralhomes.com