Charles V. Shaffer, 86, died on Feb. 12, 2009 at Overlake Hospital. He was a Mercer Island resident for 56 years.

Mr. Shaffer was born in McCloud, Calif., on Aug. 31, 1922. He moved with his family to Dunsmire, Calif., in 1932 and graduated from Dunsmire High School in 1941. He was accepted into a training program for aircraft engine maintenance and overhaul in 1941. His group was working at McClellan Army Air Corp Base when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and was asked not to enlist because replacements would need to be trained. Mr. Shaffer enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 and was ordered to Air Base Group #2 (ABG-2) at the North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego, Calif., where he remained for 23 months. He was then sent to the South Pacific, where he joined Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12) and his maintenance group supported several fighter squadrons. He was discharged from the military in 1945.

In 1949, Mr. Shaffer met Clara Louise Pierce and they were married on May 20, 1950. He was recalled to active duty in September 1950 and served one year during the Korean War.

Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer moved in 1952 to Mercer Island, where they started their family. He went to work for Boeing until retiring in 1982 to care for his ailing wife. After retirement, they joined the Bell-Vu-Deers RV Club. They made many special trips, including a month-long trip to Mexico. After Clara Louise’s death in 1997, Mr. Shaffer continued to be an active part of the club. He spent many of his Friday afternoons helping at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, folding the bulletins for Sunday’s church service. He also loved his trips to the ABG-2 reunions until his health prevented his traveling.

Mr. Shaffer is survived by his daughter, Barbara Ann Hallgren (David); son, Dan Shaffer (former wife, Celia); grandchildren, Jason, Craig (Anna), Lindsey Da Costa (Luciano) and Stephanie Lewis (Jeff); great-grandsons, Landon and Ian; brother and sister-in-law, Sam and Lucille Pierce; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave. S.E. Remembrances are suggested to the Mercer Island Fire Department, 3030 78th Ave. S.E.; Somerset Women for Medic 1, Bellevue Fire Department, P.O. Box 90012, Bellevue, WA 98009; or the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church.