Doris M Shafer

Doris M. Shafer, 97, formerly of Wyomissing, passed away on November 9, 2013 in Phoebe Berks where she had lived for the past 11 years.

She was the widow of Dr. B. Henry Shafer, who died on April 8, 1995. Born in Hazleton, she was the daughter of the late Edwin U. and Kathryn (Kessler) Von Bergen.

Doris is survived by her two sons, Dr. Byron E. Shafer, husband of Wanda Shafer, of Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, and the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, husband of Kris Shafer, of New York City. She is also survived by her sister, Ruth Rosenstock, of Wyomissing Hills.

She was a 1938 graduate of Bloomsburg University and a member of Atonement Lutheran Church in Wyomissing where she was an officer of the Women of Atonement.

Doris began her professional life early - at age 16 she had a weekly radio program on WACL AM in Hazelton during which she sang pop songs live accompanied by a pianist. During those years she was also a "canary," the "girl singer" who sang with the Big Bands of the time when they played in the Hazleton area. During her college years, she worked summers teaching ballroom dancing and teaching women to make doll clothing for museum displays, a WPA supported project.

After college, she returned to Hazleton and did substitute teaching in the area. In 1939 she began her teaching career at Eichelberger High School in Hanover, first as a substitute for a teacher on leave and then, after a brief return to Hazleton, as a permanent member of the high school faculty.

At Eichelberger High School, Doris met Henry Shafer and they began dating immediately. They were engaged in 1939 but kept their engagement secret for two years so that Doris would not loose her job (at that time, women who got engaged were fired since it was assumed they would soon be married and pregnant).

Doris and Henry were married on June 21, 1941. She resigned her teaching position before the school district could fire her.

In June of 1943 Henry entered the Army Air Corps to avoid being drafted. Doris followed him to his military assignments in Biloxi, Mississippi and San Antonio, Texas. These were among the happiest times of their young lives.

Doris returned to Hanover with Henry after he was discharged in 1946 - his teaching position had been held for him there. They moved to Wyomissing in 1954 where she lived until she moved to Phoebe Berks Village in 2002. Doris returned to teaching at Reading High School in 1956, after both of her sons went to school, and taught commercial subjects (short hand, note hand, salesmanship and typing) and English there until her retirement in 1977.

Her Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2013 in the Chapel at Phoebe Berks Village in Wernersville, at 3:30 pm. The Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Atonement Lutheran Church in Wyomissing. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com