Mildred Ruth Shafer's Obituary
Mildred Ruth Shafer, age 97, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 2, 2019 after living a full and productive life. She was born on August 20, 1921 to Laura Mae and Lester Kelly in Greensburg, PA, the third child and eldest of four daughters eventually born to the couple. She spent her happy childhood playing with her brothers and sisters on the modest family homestead and surrounding rural countryside of Armbrust Hill in South Greensburg.
Millie (as she was known to all of her friends) graduated from Greensburg High School in 1940, and shortly thereafter began her professional career working in the accounting department at the Sears and Roebuck store in town. Sears took notice of her talent for organizing the finances of the Greensburg store, and eventually sent her to do the same at stores in Arlington, VA, Wilmington DE and Brooklyn, NY. This was during a time that women weren’t typically found in managerial positions. While working at the Brooklyn store, she met her husband-to-be, Clarence R. Shafer.
After a successful courtship, Clarence ask for her hand in marriage, and so on August 16, 1954 she became Mrs. Mildred Shafer. Millie left Sears to become a dedicated wife and the couple took up housekeeping in Bridgeport, CT. In 1956, the first of their two sons, Clifford, was born. The growing family then moved to Camp Hill, PA, where their second son, Larry, was born in 1958.
Clarence’s job required him to travel, so Millie tirelessly raised an active toddler and infant son by herself until Clarence could return each weekend to help. As her sons grew, she became an assistant Cub Scout pack leader, shuttled them to baseball practices and attended various school functions. Even with this busy schedule, she managed to find enough love and energy to bring a foster daughter into the family for a year.
In 1965, the family moved to Cinnaminson, NJ to be closer to Clarence’s workplace and finish raising their sons. After Clarence retired from Sears, Millie and Clarence co-founded CLC Locksmiths in 1972. Her organizational skills and attention to detail as a bookkeeper helped the business to prosper and grow into a thriving family business that today employs 5 full-time locksmiths and is run by Cliff and Larry. At one time or another, all of her grandchildren worked at the business. Her grandson Thomas continues to work there today as the company’s automotive lock expert with plans to continue the business.
Satisfied that they had provided a nurturing family environment and great future for the “boys” (as she called them right up until the end), she and Clarence moved to the Myrtle Beach, SC area to enjoy a well-deserved retirement. From this base of operations, they traveled the country for 6+ years in their beloved RV, visiting family and friends, and making new friends all along the way. Clarence passed away due to complications from Alzheimer’s in 1997, and several years later Millie returned to NJ to live out her final years at CareOne ALF in Moorestown, NJ and be close to her sons and grandchildren.
Millie Shafer was a loving wife, mother, and doting grandmother whose always cheerful disposition and sense of humor will be deeply missed by her family. She is survived by her sons Cliff Shafer and his wife Derena of Mount Laurel, and Larry Shafer of Delran; grandchildren Ryan Shafer and Thomas Shafer of Delran, McKenna Dressel and her husband Joe of Cherry Hill; and sisters Florence Anicker and Doris Harvan.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather at Givnish of Cinnaminson, 1200 Route 130 N., on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 from 10 am – 11 am. Her service will begin at 11 am, followed by interment in Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mildred’s memory may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association. To share your fondest memories and condolences, please visit www.Givnish.com.
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