William Harry "Bill" Shaffer

William Harry Shaffer, Jr., 77, of Mechanicsburg, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026, surrounded by his loving family at Penn State Hampden Medical Center. Born on April 26, 1948, in Cumberland, Maryland, he was the son of the late William Harry Shaffer, Sr. and Bernice M. (Barkley) Shaffer. Bill was the devoted husband of Kathryn Louise (Grimminger) Shaffer, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage filled with love.

A graduate of Huntingdon High School, Bill enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving in Vietnam and Okinawa, Japan. He was a proud Vietnam Veteran.

Following 9 years in the Marine Corps, Bill built his career as a mechanic at the Mack Trucks Remanufacturing Center where he worked for 30 years. Bill received several promotions and ended his career as the Environmental and Safety Manager. This profession perfectly matched his natural talent for fixing and building things. He was known by family and friends as a true handyman-someone who could tackle nearly any project. He especially enjoyed working on house projects alongside Kathy, finding satisfaction not only in the finished product but in the time spent together.

Bill loved fishing and spending time outdoors, appreciating the peace and simplicity of nature. He also enjoyed model trains and building with LEGOs, hobbies that reflected both his creativity and his playful spirit. Above all else, he treasured time with his grandchildren, who brought him immense pride and joy.

In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his 3 children, Christie J. (Scott) Esworthy, William H. (Crystal) Shaffer, III, and Jennifer R. (Darren) Klingman; his 7 grandchildren, Katie, Eric, Karli, Miles, Maddie, Tragen, and Mahalya; his 1 brother, Warren Shaffer; his 4 sisters, Willa Toy, Ann Custer, Louise Hershberger, and Deb Krouse; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Pam Leonard.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026, 11AM, at Tree of Life Lutheran Church, 1492 Linglestown Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation at the church from 10AM-11AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Penn State Pediatric Cancer Research - Four Diamonds, P.O. Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033-0852.