Paul M. Shaffer

MSgt. PAUL M. SHAFFER USMC (Ret.) of Little Rock answered his last role call on 9, Aug. 2017. He was born Sept. 23, 1940 in Pittsburgh, Pa., to the late James and Dorothy Shaffer. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Viet Nam War with the 3rd Marine Division and 3rd Marine Amphibious Force. While stationed in Norfolk, Va., he met and married Donna Mae Nicholls from McKeesport, Pa., his wife of 55 years on Sept. 9, 1961. On Aug. 31, 1978, he retired at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., and moved with his family to Little Rock, Ark., to assume the duties as the Marine Instructor, Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at Catholic High School for Boys, Little Rock, Ark. This second career lasted another twenty years under the direction of the late Monsignor George Tribou. He considered this assignment one of the most important and edifying vocations that he undertook during his lifetime. He later worked at Merrill Lynch as a Registered Client Associate for two years and then for a period of 4 years as a Veterans Service Officer at the Arkansas State Veterans Department. He is survived by his brothers, SMSGT James E. Shaffer USAF (Ret.) (Yoshie) of Hampton. Va., and Robert A. Shaffer (Susan) of Anchorage, Alaska; his son, James Robert Shaffer (Dorothy) of Sherwood, Ark., and his daughter, Melanie Dawn Cook (John) of Glen Rose, Ark. He derived much joy from his grandchildren, Caitlin Walraven and Joshua Walter; and great-granddaughter, Lily Rae Walraven. A celebration of his life will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark., 72211. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors. Memorials may be made to UAMS Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute, 4018 W. Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Ark. 72205. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.