Robert Eugene Sheaffer

Robert Eugene Sheaffer December 2, 1925 – June 8, 2010 Robert Eugene Sheaffer passed away peacefully in Mt. Angel, Oregon on June 8, 2010.  He would have been 85 yrs. of age this December.  He was born to a family of 10 siblings on Dec. 2, 1925 in Harrisburg, PA.  Bob dropped out of high school at age 15 to work for his family.  He enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 23, 1943 having served on a submarine as the ship’s cook.  He was honorably discharged from the US Navy on Dec. 4, 1946.  Upon his return to civilian life, bob completed high school, then college at St. Francis college in PA, University of Arkansas, and San Jose State college studying mathematics and physics.  Bob’s professional career in applied mathematics as a computer programmer began with Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, then with NASA-Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA where he contributed to the early development of high technology from 1956-1977, working on the Apollo mission to put a man on the moon amongst others. Bob was married to Doris Yvonne Settle of Kansas City, in 1959, in Palo Alto.  Yvonne was also an applied mathematician at NASA Ames, who preceded Robert in death on Oct. 17, 2004. Bob was an enthusiastic epicure and wine collector, modernist, golfer, bowler, gardener, 5th wheeler, and lover of noir mysteries.  Bob and Yvonne will be remembered as inquisitive adventurers who developed a first generation solar home incorporating permaculture  concepts in Lake County, CA after retirement in the early 1980’s.  Ten years later, they moved to Florence, OR to devote more time to travel, after a brief time in Stayton, OR where Bob was a member of the Elks Lodge and Yvonne became a Life Master of Bridge.  Later Bob and Yvonne lived in Redwood Estates in Salem and Marian Estates in Sublimity, OR.  Bob lived in Providence Benedictine in Mt. Angel, OR since 2007. Bob will be missed for his sense of humor and pioneering spirit, and is survived by sisters, Meda and Pat and brothers, Jack and Don of PA, sisters, Clairie and Betty of FL; and nieces and nephews in PA,NY,FL and CA. Private family memorial service was held last weekend. Arrangements entrusted to Weddle Funeral Services. Online condolences to Weddle-Funeral.com