Robert E. Schafer, 90

Robert E. Schafer, 90, of Cedar Road, Lancaster, died on Father’s Day, June 20, 2010, at Hospice of Lancaster County, Mount Joy, following a brief illness.

Robert was born on December 2, 1919, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of the late Walter and Elnora Schafer. At the age of 13, Robert moved with his family to Lancaster, where he graduated in 1937 from the old Boys High School.

Robert and his wife, Doris (Kepner), celebrated their 39th  wedding anniversary in December 2009. His first wife, Ellen (Anderson) died in 1970.

After 38 years in research, production and sales, Robert, a metallurgist, retired from Hamilton Watch Company in 1982. Following retirement, he spent several years as a consultant to Ham Tech and Hamilton Precision Metals.

Robert was a registered professional engineer and a certified master watchmaker. He was a life member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the American Society for Metals.

A veteran of World War II, he served as a medic in General Patton’s Third Army in Europe and received the Victory medal and the European-African Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars. He was a life member of Lititz VFW Post 1463.

Robert was a member of the Lamberton Lodge 476 F&AM of Lancaster and a 32-degree Mason in the Harrisburg Consistory. He was a 75-year member of Covenant United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school for 25 years. He recently participated in a videotaped oral history interview for the church’s archives.

A member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors for more than 40 years, he collected and repaired antique watches. He also enjoyed woodcarving, bird watching and travel. His byline is familiar to readers of the Lancaster Sunday News feature “I Know A story,” which has published several of his articles, including a story about hosting President Dwight D. Eisenhower on a tour of Hamilton’s precision metals division; and in February 2010, his last article, “Hamilton Linked Lancaster to the Moon,” a memory piece about his part in the manufacture of the plaque attached to the Apollo 11’s lunar module, marking the historic 1969 moon landing.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Bonnie J., wife of Roger Dorsey, Neffsville, and Gail J., wife of Thomas Herr, Akron; three stepsons, James E. Kepner, husband of Margaret (Maggie), Lancaster, Daniel E. Kepner, husband of Margaret (Peg), Lancaster, and Jeffrey L., husband of Valerie, Augusta, GA; eight grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Robert was preceded in death by a brother, Harold, and two sisters, Gladys Neiter and Janet Nickel.

Graveside services will be private at the convenience of the family. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, 17604-4125, or Humane League of Lancaster County, 2195 Lincoln Highway E., Lancaster, 17602.