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Ohio cattle producer dies at 79
EATON, Ohio— Ralph W. Shafer, age 79, of Eaton, Ohio, a well-known and respected farmer and cattle producer, died unexpectedly at his home on Sat., Sept. 8, 2007. Shafer was born October 9, 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 Aug. 28, 1949 and farmed in the Greens Fork, Ind. and Williamsburg, Ind. areas before moving to Preble County, Ohio 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; son Larry Shafer and his wife Cheryl of Eaton; daughter Linda Bowman and her husband Phillip of Greens Fork; daughter Susan Bell and her husband Rex of Hagerstown, Ind.; daughter Deborah Jordan and her husband Phil of Richmond, Ind.; and son Steven Shafer and his wife Beth of Eaton; 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, Va.; Michael Bell and his wife Brooke of Fishers, Ind., Emily Beechler and her husband Jeff of Arcadia, Ind., Jon Bell and his wife Abby of New Lisbon, Ind., Kathleen Jordan of Avon, Ind., Clark Jordan, Sarah Jordan, Joan Jordan and Mitchell Jordan all of Richmond, Ind.; Kylee Shafer, Cody Shafer, Carson Shafer and Kinzee Shafer all of Eaton; 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 services for Shafer took place on Wed., Sept. 12 at the Doan & Mills Funeral Home in Richmond, Ind. Burial was at the Greens Fork South Cemetery. 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 online guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com
9/12/2007