Barbara Lee Shaffer Oviedo FL was called home by her Lord and Savior on Wednesday July 4th, 2018. Barbara was born in Sanford, FL on November 18, 1928, the only girl of four children born to James H. Lee Jr and Grace Lee. She attended Oviedo public schools through the eleventh grade and graduated from high school in 1947 while attending Bob Jones University. After completing three years at Bob Jones, she transferred to the University of Florida for her senior year so she could receive a Florida Teaching Certificate. She graduated in August 1951 with a Bachelor’s degree in speech and education. She taught at Orlando Senior High from 1951-1952, the last year of the school, and was assigned to the staff of Edgewater High School, Orlando, for the 1952-1953 school year.
She married 2nd Lt Don W. Shaffer in the Foster Chapel United Methodist Church, Oviedo, on August 2, 1952. After a brief honeymoon, her husband shipped out to Worms, Germany, and she reported to Edgewater High School. When housing became available in Worms, Germany, orders came directing her to join her husband in April 1953. When their tour of duty in Germany was nearing completion, in September 1955, Barbara was found to be pregnant. She gave birth to a son, Don W. II, on March 20, 1956, at the Fort Meade Maryland Army Hospital. In October 1958, while stationed in Augusta, Georgia she gave birth to her second son, Thomas L. at the US Army Hospital, Fort Gordon, GA. She and her sons accompanied her husband when he was assigned to Heidelberg, Germany, in 1964, and to Bangkok, Thailand, in 1972. While stationed at Ft Meade, Maryland, Barbara was Chairman of the Protestant Chapel for several years. She was nominated for the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor, presented to her on July 1, 1979. When her husband retired from the US Army on August 1st, 1979, the family returned to Oviedo. Barbara instantly rejoined the Oviedo Women’s Club (OWC) and served as its president for two years, 1986-1988. She chaired OWC’s Great Day in the Country on two occasions and the OWC Tasting Luncheon several times. Barbara joined the Oviedo Methodist Church on March 12, 1936. She served as the Missions Chairman of the church for over 20 years, served as Chairman of the Administrative Board for two years, was the church’s representative to the Methodist Children’s Home and served a Lay Delegate to the Methodist Annual Conference for five years in the 1990s. In 2017, the Florida Conference of the Methodist Church presented Barbara with a pin in recognition of her various services with the First United Methodist of Oviedo over the past 20 years.
She is survived by her sons Dr. Don W. Shaffer II, of Marietta, GA and Thomas L. Shaffer of Oviedo FL; brother Glenn Lee of Las Vegas, NV; daughter-in-law Carol Shaffer of Marietta, GA; brother-in-law Dr. Robert Shaffer of Orlando FL; and three grandsons, Aaron, James and Matthew Shaffer. A memorial service will be held at 2pm Sunday, July 15, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church, Oviedo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Building Fund, First United Methodist Church, Oviedo, 263 King Street, Oviedo FL 32765.