Forrest Schaeffer Jr.

1927 - 2015

Judge Forrest Grim Schaeffer Jr., 87, passed away surrounded by his family in the Reading Hospital on Friday, June 19, 2015.

Born in Allentown, PA on Sept. 9, 1927, to the late Forrest Grim Schaeffer, MD and Mary Elizabeth (Gitt) Schaeffer.

Judge Schaeffer grew up in Allentown, graduating from Wm. Allen High School in 1945. He immediately entered the Army Air Corps and served until 1947.

Upon leaving the service, he entered Lehigh University, where he graduated in 1950. This was followed by Harvard Law School from 1950-1953. He set up a private law practice at 526 Washington St., Reading, in the same building where his father was born, his grandfather, Daniel Nicholas Schaeffer, Esquire and his uncle, Judge Paul N. Schaeffer also practiced law.

While retaining his private practice in Reading and Kutztown, he formed a partnership with Paul D. Edelman, Esquire, in Boyertown and Bally. They later formed the firm of Edelman, Schaeffer, Saylor, Readinger & Poore in Reading, where he continued until elected to the Berks County Bench in 1976.

He served on the Berks County Court of Common Pleas bench from 1976 until he retired in 2007. He was President Judge for 15 years. Judge Schaeffer was originally appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County in November, 1976. His appointment was confirmed unanimously by the senate. He was nominated by both the Republican and Democratic Parties in 1977 for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, was elected that November and was retained in 1987 and 1997. In 1982, although he was a Democrat, he was nominated by the Republican Party to be their candidate for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

He was married June 25, 1959, to Dorothea (Lee) Schaeffer, daughter of the late Clarence Henry Lee and Dorothea Weddington (Simpson) Lee of North Carolina.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are 5 children: Andrew, husband of Tracy (Snyder), Katharine, Elizabeth, Phillip and Forrest III, husband of Valerie (Miller); 11 grandchildren: Madison Schaeffer, Khouloud Mannai, Cody Bauman, West Bauman, Logan Bauman, Kaley Miller-Schaeffer, Holden Miller-Schaeffer, Hayden Miller-Schaeffer, twins, Samuel and Maggie Schaeffer and Sarah Schaeffer.

He was a member of St. John's UCC Kutztown, where he was President of Consistory, deacon, elder and taught the young people's Sunday School. He was also an active member of the Jaycees, Kiwanis and the Kutztown Lions Club.

Judge Schaeffer was Mayor of Kutztown from 1963-1967. He threw out the first pitch to open the official Little League Association of Kutztown and wrote the legal documents establishing the regulations for the park.

Forrest was a member of the Kutztown University Board of Trustees for 10 years and served as the Chairman for many years.

Forrest was passionate about his love of antique Hudson cars. He enjoyed attending Hudson Car Meets with fellow PA Dutch Chapter friends. Many local Berks Countians would see him driving to work in his favorite maroon 1954 Hudson Super Wasp convertible in summer or winter with the top down.

For many years, Forrest taught courses for banking personnel with the American Banking Institute.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Walbert Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PC, 14390 Kutztown Rd., Fleetwood, PA with the Rev. Dr. Harry Serio, officiating. A private interment will take place in Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading. Viewings will be held on Wednesday, June 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. and again on Thursday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 2151, Memphis, TN, 38101.

Walbert Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PC, Fleetwood, is honored to be entrusted with Judge Schaeffer's services.

Online condolences may be offered to his family at WalbertFuneralHome.com.