Leona Francis (Paul) Shafer, 85, passed away on Monday, August 21, 2006, at the Good Samaritan Home in Evansville.
She was born on January 1, 1921, to Grace (Angel) and Irving Paul and spent her childhood in Warrick and Vanderburgh counties, graduating from Bosse High School in 1938. She entered the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1942. She was proud to become a Registered Nurse, and treasured her friendships with nursing school classmates throughout her life.
Leona married William C. Shafer Jr. in May 1942 at the height of WWII. After the war the couple made a home on Weinbach Avenue, and then lived on Oak Hill Road for many years before settling in Springhaven. Leona was a member of Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, Central Turners, Evansville Country Club, The Kennel Club and Colonial Dames. She served as president of Sinawik and the North High School PTA, and held several offices in the Vanderburgh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a Girl Scout leader and board member and a Red Cross volunteer. A descendent of the John Angel family, she served as a board member for the Friends of Angel Mounds for several years. In 1991, she joined Bethlehem United Church of Christ, where she served as an elder and was active in Sunday school and quilting. She enjoyed many hobbies during her lifetime, including travel, needlework, painting, cooking, antiquing, nature and the study of Native Americans.
Leona was preceded in death by her husband, William C. Shafer Jr. in 1990, and her sister, Margaret Graves in 2003.
She is survived by her five children, Judy Kattmann and husband, Bill of Newburgh, Jane Jackson and husband, Wayne of Evansville, Mary Roache of Evansville, Lee Ann Wambach and husband, Rick of Evansville, and Bill Shafer and wife, Maureen of Bellevue, Washington. Leona was a loving grandmother to her nine grandchildren, O.W. Kattmann III, Ted Kattmann, Katie Griffin, Wayne Jackson Jr., Jeff Jackson, Brett Roache, Anna Walls, Thomas Walls, and William Walls; and six great-grandchildren. Leona has a surviving sister, Donna Waymire of Crown Point, Indiana; and two surviving brothers, Lloyd Paul of Evansville and Robert Paul Sr. of Kalispell, Montana.
Alexander North Chapel, 4200 Stringtown Road is handling arrangements and visitation. Friends may call on Friday, August 25, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Alexander North, or on Saturday at Bethlehem beginning at 9:30 a.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 26, at 11a.m. at Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 6400 Oak Hill Road, with Reverend Eric Stroshine officiating.
The Leona Paul Shafer Scholarship has been established at the
University of
Southern Indiana's
College of Nursing and Health Professions. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the scholarship fund at
www.usi.edu/giving, her church, or a favorite charity. The family is grateful to the staff at the Good Samaritan Home for their loving care and many kindnesses shown to their mother. Condolences may be made online at www.mem.com
