Paul R. Shaffer, 92, a resident of Ridgewood Shenango Valley, Hermitage, and formerly of Greenville, died peacefully Wednesday evening at St. Paul’s Senior Living Community.

Paul was born March 9, 1928 in Jefferson Twp. to Ethel (Swartz/Hoovler) and David Shaffer. As a child he moved to the Sandy Lake area where he attended school at Yankee No. 5 in what is today the Lakeview School District. He enjoyed sharing the story of how he earned 25 cents a week to walk to school early and light the wood-burning stove.

At age 14 and in 7th grade, Paul dropped out of school to begin working and taking care of his mother and sisters. He would spend the next 78 years caring for the people he loved.

Inspired by his brother, Glenn Hoovler, who participated in the D-Day invasion at Normandy two years earlier, Paul enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946. He trained as a paratrooper with the 101^st Airborne. Stationed in Japan, he was part of the American occupation after the atomic bombs were dropped to end World War II.

After an 18-month stint in the service of his country he returned home and married Patricia McClelland on Oct. 14, 1949. After living in Sharon, Franklin and Fredonia, the couple settled in West Salem Township and raised four boys on a small, 10-acre farm. Pat and Paul Shaffer celebrated their 70^th wedding anniversary last fall.

Paul was a lifetime truck driver who used the CB handle “PA Pipe Hauler.” He worked for several companies, delivering milk, moving furniture, spreading lime, delivering department store merchandise, but mostly hauling steel pipe and conduit for Cyclops – Sawhill Tubular Division in Wheatland. There he was a 20-year member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and served as a member of his local union’s bargaining committee.

Paul had a servant’s heart and was a man of unshakable faith. He was a member of Lifeway Church of the Nazarene, Greenville, and helped construct the Columbia Ave. church in 1961. He served as a trustee, Sunday School teacher and in various other positions. His church family remembers him for giving rides to anyone who needed one, especially children. Rarely did he arrive at church without his family and a few friends.

Paul will be remembered not only as a Godly man, but as a kind and loving soul with a delightful sense of humor. He could fix anything and loved to share his gift of helping others. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and following Reynolds High School athletics where his four boys participated in wrestling and football. In the 1970s and 80s he studied to obtain his pilot’s license after taking lessons at Greenville airport.

His wife, Patricia, survives. Also surviving are four sons: Bob, and his wife, Donna, of Hermitage; Roy, and his wife, Denise, of Rock Hill, NY; Doug, and his wife, Lori, of Richland, WA; and, Don, and his wife, Patti, of Valencia, PA. Also surviving are six grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Paul was preceded in death by his father, mother, five sisters (Nellie, Ruby, Ida, Pearl and Rose) and his brother, Glenn.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Lifeway Church of the Nazarene, 94 Columbia Ave., Greenville, PA 16125.  Cards of condolence can be mailed to Pat Shaffer, 1 Elston Way, Hermitage, PA 16148