Thelma Shaffer

Thelma A. Shaffer, age 90, of New Philadelphia, went to be with the Lord Friday, May 2, 2014 at Hennis Care Center in Dover.

A daughter of the late Ellsworth and Pearl (Brown) Gundy, Thelma was born on March 23, 1924 in New Cumberland, Ohio.

She was a 1941 graduate of Dover High School and on December 14 of the same year, she married the late Herman J. Shaffer at the First United Methodist Church in New Philadelphia.

Thelma retired from the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections after 34 years of dedicated service to the community. She was an active part of the Roxford United Methodist Church, Fairfield Grange and New Philadelphia Republican Woman’s Organization, the Tuscarawas County Republican Central Committee and spent many years as a 4-H advisor.

For many years, her husband, Herman, was involved with various gospel music groups and Thelma enjoyed traveling with them as they provided ministry through music. Additionally, she enjoyed accompanying him during a number of trips. She also loved gardening, keeping her yard tidy, crocheting baby blankets, tracing family genealogy, and spoiling her grandchildren.

She is survived by her three children, Wanda (Ron) Breniser, Ken (Colleen) Shaffer, and Dayna (Ken) Bayer all of New Philadelphia; 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, Thelma was preceded in death by two infant siblings; her brother, Leo Gundy; sister-in-law, Doreen Gundy and her nephew, Ron Gundy.

Visitation will be held Sunday, May 4, 2014 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory in New Philadelphia. A service celebrating Thelma’s life will be led by Reverend Henry Mooney and Pastor Ron “Bubba” Heasley in the funeral home’s chapel on Monday, May 5, 2014 at 10:30 AM. Burial alongside her husband will follow in the Holmes Church Cemetery. Following services, all are invited to share in a meal and fellowship in the Family Life Center of Roxford United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions in honor of Thelma’s life may be directed to Roxford United Methodist Church, 771 Roxford Church Road SE, Dennison, Ohio 44621.

The family would like to express a deep appreciation and extend a warm thank you to the staff of Hennis Care Center at Dover for their compassionate care during the past two years.