Douglas Lloyd Shaffer

Rev. Douglas Lloyd Shaffer, 64, died July 13, 2010 in his Wyomissing residence after a three year battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was the husband of Barbara Hazel Beringer, whom he married October 1, 1988.

Born in Altoona on February 27, 1946, he was a son of the late Rev. William Albert and Jane Elizabeth (Yeager) Shaffer.

Doug was a graduate of Central Dauphin High School, 1963; Lafayette College, 1967 and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 1970.

He was a Presbyterian minster from 1970 to 1992. In 1992 he was the interim minister for St. John's U.C.C. of Orwigsburg. In January of 1993 he was installed as the minister for Bausman Memorial United Church of Christ and served there until his retirement in August of 2009.

Prior to 1992, he was the executive director of Reading Urban Ministry, formerly SouthWest Christian Ministry. Doug, through the ministry, was instrumental in the foundation of both the Greater Berks Food Bank, where he was a founding board member and the Reading Emergency Shelter, now Opportunity House, where he was the executive director. The ministry also founded and supported the food pantry and clothing center. Doug was a member of the board of directors for the Berks AIDS Health Crisis, now Berks AIDS Network. He was also a member of the board of directors for the Berks County Mental Health Association. In the early 70's he worked for several Pittsburgh neighborhood associations including Iron Gate Youth Center.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two children: Matthew J., husband of Lisa E. (Anderson) Shaffer, San Francisco, CA and Rachael M. Shaffer of Wyomissing. Also surviving is his sister, Polly J., wife of Edward J. Podgorski II, Brigantine, NJ. There are two nephews, Edward J. Podgorski III and Patrick H. Warren and one niece Amy J. Podgorski surviving him.

Doug was predeceased by his brother, David T. Shaffer.

Services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in Bausman Memorial United Church of Christ, 1064 Penn Avenue Wyomissing, with Rev. Rebecca Brenner officiating. A viewing will be Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading and Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. in the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Berks AIDS Network: P.O. Box 8626, Reading, PA 19603 or the Greater Berks Food Bank: 1011 Tuckerton Court, Reading, PA 19605. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.