Dr. A. William Shafer

Dr. A. William Shafer, 85, peacefully passed in the presence of his family on October 28, 2013 in Kansas City, MO. Bill enjoyed retirement life with his wife, Betsy Thomas Dring Shafer, at Lake Quivira, KS as a committed family man, voracious reader and avid golfer. Bill was married to June Alefs Shafer for 49 years prior to her death in 1999 and married Betsy in 2000. Bill was a loving father to two daughters, Sandy Francis (Dave) and Cynthia Moore (Steve) of Overland Park, KS and stepfather to Tom and Chris Dring (Kay) of Overland Park and Susan Deaton (Rick), of Virginia Beach, VA. Bill was blessed with fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters: Theelda Gunther (Garland) Denver, CO and Jeanne Blessing (Roger) Lenexa, KS. Born in Great Bend, KS, November 1, 1927, Bill attended the University of Kansas and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea and returned to graduate from KU and KU Medical School, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omicron Alpha. Bill began a clinical research and academic medicine career in Hematology that took him to Scripps Clinic, Harvard Medical School, University of Oklahoma Medical Center and University of Kentucky Medical School. Bill joined Southeastern Michigan Red Cross in Detroit to become the region's Executive Director over Blood Services operations and Red Cross services. In 1995, the Red Cross National Testing Laboratory in Detroit was named in honor of Dr. A. William Shafer. Bill was preceded in death by his parents Lloyd T. and Kathryn Bell Shafer and brother Ted. A Memorial Service will be held at St. John's Methodist Church at 6900 Ward Parkway in Kansas City, MO Saturday, November 2nd at 10:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to a charity of your choice.