Martin L. Shafer, 91, devoted husband, loving father, and grandfather of Stonecrest,Summerfield, Florida, left this life on April 12, 2026, at Spanish Plains Hospital.
He was preceded indeath by his parents, William L. Shafer and Gladys Irene Aikey, and by his wife, Gloria June Shafer.
He had been a resident of The Highpoint at Stonecrest Senior Living since late October 2025 and hadlived in the Stonecrest community since January 1998.
Larry was born on February 1, 1935, in Darke County, Ohio. He graduated from Gettysburg HighSchool in 1953 and served two years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict, deployed to theair station in Tokyo, Japan. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Airman First Class. After hisservice, he earned an associate degree in accounting from Miami-Jacobs Junior College.June and Larry were married for 61 wonderful years, moving around the Midwest and Southeast duringhis professional life.
Larry began his civilian career with Herb Baird Construction in Greenville, Ohio, and later worked forEvelyn Sprague Meat Processing in Englewood, Ohio. That began a 33-year career in the meatprocessing industry that took him from Arcanum and West Chester, Ohio, to Florence, Alabama, andHendersonville and Germantown, Tennessee, finishing his career with Jimmy Dean Foods.Larry enjoyed volunteering for Christian causes with which he had a strong affinity. He served as thehead of Christian education at the Church of the Brethren in Pitsburg, Ohio, in the early 1970s and wastreasurer of the Presbyterian church he attended in Florence, Alabama. He also served on the board ofthe YMCA in Florence while he lived there. Larry attended and ushered at the North Lake PresbyterianChurch in Lady Lake, Florida. He served on the board of his POA, including one term as President. Healso drove for Meals on Wheels and helped elderly residents with transportation from time to timewhile he lived in Summerfield.
He is survived by his son, Carl L. Shafer (Heidi); his granddaughter, Melinda June Amerman (Steven);and many friends and colleagues.
An avid golfer, gardener, bird watcher, homemade sausage maker, light woodworker, and stock trader, Larry was known for his steady presence, quick humor, and memorable sayings – including an often heard exclamation of “What the-” and playful references to “Larry’s Mule Farm.” He enjoyed sharing stories and a laugh with friends and family.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. at North Lake Presbyterian Church in Lady Lake, Florida. Interment will follow at 11:30 a.m. the same day at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. The family requests that all flowers be sent to the church.