Charles E. Shafer

Charles E. Shafer, age 92, of Warwick, MD, passed away on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Born on New Years Day, 1920 in Bismark, North Dakota, Mr. Shafer was the eldest of 6 siblings in a Great Depression Era family who soon returned to their native Pennsylvania.

An honors student, Mr. Shafer was unable to pursue his ambition to attend college until after working and saving for 2 years, then winning a scholarship in Architectural Engineering to Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia, PA. Upon the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of his junior year, Mr. Shafer, like so many others, voluntarily left his studies and enlisted in the armed forces. He trained with bomber units as a non-commissioned 2nd Lt. in the US Air Force.

Returning to his studies after the WWII Armistice became a non-option for Mr. Shafer, who, during the war, had married and conceived a son, Robert Charles. He immediately embarked on an engineering tech career at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. He retired after 30 years. His work at APG included special assignments with International Geophysical atmospheric testing with NASA and NOWA in the Canadian Arctic, and Defense Department nuclear testing in the South Pacific atols. Mr. Shafer also worked in conjunction with the US Space Program – he was an unabashed outer space ‘junkie’ for his entire adult life.

After early retirement, Mr. Shafer returned to his family’s home construction roots and became quite accomplished in the modular vacation home business throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

Among his favorite hobbies were choral singing, (he was a gifted tenor), and small craft sailing. He was widely admired for his gift at helping people solve their own problems.

He is survived by his loving wife Helen and her daughters, Linda and Paula, and their immediate families, which includes a large brood of adoring grandchildren. Mr. Shafer’s son, Robert Charles, resides in coastal North Carolina.

Services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., 111 S. Queen Street, Rising Sun, MD 21911, where friends and family may call one hour prior. Burial will follow at Bel Air Memorial Gardens.