Richard George Shaffer

Lt. Colonel Richard G. Shaffer (US Army Retired) was born on July 22, 1939, in Torrance, California, to Eugene Robert Shaffer and Marion Famous Shaffer, originally from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. His family moved to American Fork, Utah, in 1945 when his father began work at the U.S. Steel Company's new Geneva Steel Mill. Richard ("Dick") graduated from American Fork High School in 1957. He attended the University of Utah, earning a degree in accounting and a commission through the Army ROTC unit as an Infantry Second Lieutenant in 1963. He completed the Infantry Officers Basic Course, Ranger, and Airborne training at Ft Benning, Georgia, in 1963. In 1975, he earned his MBA in Accounting from Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.

Richard's first military assignment in 1964 was with the 6th Infantry, stationed in West Berlin, Germany. After two years of leading troops and doing Army Intelligence work in the Soviet sector of East Berlin, Dick Branch transferred to the Army Finance Corps and was assigned to the Berlin Brigade Finance Office. His next assignment in 1967 was that of Post Finance Officer at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. In January 1968, Dick was sent to the Fifth Special Forces Group, Green Berets, in the Republic of Vietnam, where he was responsible for ensuring funding for all Special Forces missions in Vietnam. In February 1969, he was transferred to the US Army Finance School Staff and Faculty, Ft Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana. After two years on the faculty and one year of advanced education, he was transferred to Ft McPherson, Georgia, where he served in several different positions both on the post and at the Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). Dick left active duty in 1978 after 15 years of service and joined the Army Reserve in East Point, Georgia. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in April 1988, after a total of 23 years of active duty and reserve military service, as well as two years in the Inactive Army Reserve.

In March 1978, after joining the Army Reserve, Dick began work as a Department of the Army Civilian at Ft McPherson's U.S. Army Forces Command Headquarters. Assignments over the ensuing years included that of Senior Supervisory Budget Analyst and Supervisory Accountant, and at the time of his retirement in 2000, he was a Senior Financial Analyst, Office of Resource Management/Comptroller. He completed a varied, highly responsible, and rewarding 37-year career serving his country in the Army and as a DA civilian. During that time, he earned numerous medals and awards, recognizing his outstanding service.

Dick served in many roles in both the Presbyterian and the United Methodist Church denominations. Music has played a large role in his volunteer life in recent years - both in the Cornerstone United Methodist Church Choir in Newnan and singing baritone in the Men of Cornerstone Southern Gospel Quartet, which traveled throughout the area.

Dick was a very active volunteer with Boy Scouts from Cub Scout through Boy Scout levels. He was an Assistant Scoutmaster for two years and a Scoutmaster for seven more years. He was the South Fulton District Advancement Chairman for eight years and a Unit Commissioner and Chairman of the South Fulton District for one year. In 1985, he worked on the National Boy Scout Jamboree staff. He served as an Assistant Council Commissioner for three years, covering South Fulton and Clayton County Districts. He chaired the Atlanta Area Boy Scout Council's Train-the-Trainer program in 1988 and was a Scoutmaster for the Council's Junior Leader Training in 1989/1990. In 1996, he was asked to be the Atlanta Area Council Advancement Chairman, a position he held until moving to Newnan in 2004. He was awarded the Council Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his outstanding and dedicated service. After moving to Newnan, he served for several years on Eagle Scout Rank Boards of Review for Coweta District, Flint River Council.

Dick married Kay Nagel of Pleasant Grove, Utah, in 1959. He is survived by their daughter, Nina Shaffer Stubbs (Jay), and three grandchildren, Mitchell Stubbs, Jessica (Andrew) Flores and their child Arthur, and Ian Stubbs, and son, Scott Shaffer, of Johns Creek. Dick is also survived by his sister Carol Jean Leihr, of Palm Bay, Florida, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dick is preceded in death by his wife, Kay Laverne Shaffer, and his sister, Alma Connally.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 2956 Sharpsburg McCollum Road, Newnan, GA 30265, with Dr. Brian Germano officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time. Interment will take place at Georgia National Cemetery.

Those who wish may make contributions to their charity of choice in Dick's memory.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.mckoon.com.

McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory (770) 253-4580