Stanley Duane Schaffer

Stanley D. Schaffer, 84, was born August 14, 1936 in Ford City, Pennsylvania and passed away at home on October 11, 2020. Stan was the son of the late Stanley A. and Winifred G. Schaffer. 

Stan graduated from Ford City High School in 1954 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University in 1958. Upon graduation from Penn State, Stan also received his Commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Stan was involved in competitive shooting, starting in 1950. He was Captain of the American Legion Junior Rifle Team while in high school. At Penn State, he was the Captain of the Air Force ROTC rifle team who won numerous national awards. While in the U.S. Air Force, Stan was on the Air Defense Command High Power Rifle Team and ultimately received the Distinguished Rifleman Award, the highest award any shooter can win.  Stan started working at Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company in the Pittsburgh Engineering office. He soon had to report for active duty at Minot Air Force Base which was under construction in North Dakota. As one of the first 50 Air Force personnel, Stan had engineering responsibilities in many different phases of base construction and operations.

While stationed at Minot AFB, Stan met and married Janice Reiling in 1961 shortly before his tour of duty was over. They returned to Pittsburgh where they were both employed by PPG, Stan in Engineering and Janice in the Patent Attorney offices. In 1962, Stan was transferred to the glass plant in Henryetta, Oklahoma, and shortly afterward celebrated the birth of their daughter Pamela. Their son Stanley A. was born in 1965 in Okmulgee OK, and about a year later, in 1966, Stan was transferred to Fresno, CA where a new glass plant was under construction. As Assistant Plant Engineer, Stan was instrumental in the construction and start-up of the factory. He was soon promoted to Plant Engineer. In 1970 instead of transferring to Pennsylvania, Stan left PPG and went to work for Madera Glass Company, another glass plant under construction. That same year their third child Alyssa was born.  Stan finished his working career upon his retirement from Madera Glass Company in 1997. 

After living in Fresno for 33 years, Stan and Janice moved to Arroyo Grande, CA in 1999. They were excited to live close to family and especially near the beach where Stan enjoyed fishing.  He soon joined the Five Cities Retired Active Men organization and enjoyed socializing with his wonderful network of friends.  Stan was also a member of the South County Seniors. A seasoned pool player, for many years Stan served as the Treasurer of the South County Seniors Pool Club where he gave his buddies quite the competition in every 8-ball tournament. Stan and Janice have been faithful parishioners at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Stan was a skilled woodworker and carver and enjoyed donating his carved wooden toys during the church’s holiday gift giving program. Stan’s loving heart was beyond measure, his encyclopedic mind impressive, and his infectious laugh unforgettable.  Stan was loved and will be missed by all.

Stan is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Janice, daughter Pamela Acampora, son Stanley A. and his wife Dana, daughter Alyssa Emerson and her husband David; grandchildren Mitchell Acampora, Gregory Acampora and his wife Jayahna, Owen Emerson, Audrey Schaffer, and Violet Emerson; and his sister Carole Schrecengost.

A mass celebrating Stan’s life will be held at St. Patrick’s Church in Arroyo Grande on October 23, 2020 at 10:00am followed by graveside services at Old Mission Catholic Cemetery in San Luis Obispo. Remembrances can be sent to Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel in Grover Beach.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stanley Duane Schaffer, please visit our floral store.