Ralph Shafer

EATON, Ohio – Ralph W. Shafer, age 79, of Eaton, a well known and respected farmer and cattle feeder, died unexpectedly at home on Saturday, September 8, 2007. Ralph was born October 9th , 1927, the oldest son of Harry and Agnes Shafer. He was a 1945 graduate of Hagerstown High School, and served in the United States Army after graduation. He married Martha Jean Moyer on August 28th, 1949 and farmed in the Greens Fork and Williamsburg area before moving to Preble County in 1959. He was a longtime member of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association. His love of family and farming kept him actively involved in local 4-H programs and fairs. Ralph will be remembered as a hard worker, good provider and loving husband, father and grandfather by his wife, Jean Shafer; children, Larry Shafer and his wife Cheryl of Eaton, Ohio, Linda Bowman and her husband Phillip of Greens Fork, Susan Bell and her husband Rex of Hagerstown, Deborah Jordan and her husband Phil of Richmond and Steven Shafer and his wife Beth of Eaton, Ohio; 17 grandchildren, Lisa Monnig and her husband Matt of Brookville, Ohio, Ann Stammen and her husband Dennis of Vandalia, Ohio, Laura Bowman and Luke Bowman both of Greens Fork, Lindsay Bowman of Arlington, Virginia, Michael Bell and his wife Brooke of Fishers, Indiana, Emily Beechler and her husband Jeff of Arcadia, Indiana, Jon Bell and his wife Abby of New Lisbon, Indiana, Kathleen Jordan of Avon, Indiana, Clark Jordan, Sarah Jordan, Joan Jordan and Mitchell Jordan all of Richmond, Kylee Shafer, Cody Shafer, Carson Shafer and Kinzee Shafer all of Eaton, Ohio; four great-grandchildren, Grace Monnig, Hannah Beechler, Rebekah Beechler and Audry Bell; sister, Sarah Alice Hilbert of Hagerstown; nieces; nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Horace and Norman Shafer. Funeral service for Ralph W. Shafer will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 12, 2007, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. Burial will be at Greens Fork South Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 11, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to: Preble County 4-H Committee, 119 South Barron Street, Eaton, Ohio, 45320 or Reid Hospital Foundation for Heart Research, 1401 Chester Blvd., Richmond, IN 47374. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Ralph Shafer

October 9, 1927 - September 8, 2007