Richard “Dick” W. Shaffer, Esq., 84, of Allentown, died peacefully Jan. 15, 2018, surrounded by his loving family in his home.

Born April 11, 1933, in Pocono Lake, he was a son of the late Elmer and Edna (Wagner) Shaffer.

He and his wife Sally Ann Oberrender married in 1957 and they celebrated 60 happy years of marriage.

His appreciation of history began at the age of 17 when he was appointed as a Congressional Page to the U.S. House of Representatives.

He graduated with honors from Lehigh University as a distinguished Air Force second lieutenant in 1955, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.

After college, he served as a captain in the Air Force where he commanded a remote radar station north of Fairbanks, Alaska.

After serving in the military, he attended the University of Virginia Law School, graduating in 1961.

His devotion to Virginia was evidenced by his chairing his class reunions for the past 55 years.

After graduation, he moved to the Lehigh Valley with his family and began his long and distinguished legal career with the firm Butz, Hudders and Tallman.

Serving as the solicitor for South Whitehall Township, Allentown Housing Authority and Southern Lehigh School District, he concluded his law career practicing with his son Attorney Richard W. Shaffer Jr. at Swartz and Associates.

His commitment to community service began at a young age when he served as president of the Christian Youth Organization of the Pocono Mountains.

He taught adult Sunday School and served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown.

One of the founders of Planned Parenthood of the Lehigh Valley and the Trident Swim Club, he served on the Muhlenberg Board of Associates and as president of the Lehigh County Historical Society.

His love of the outdoors began as a child. He hunted, trapped and fished with his beloved hunting dogs.

He later hunted at the Easton Anglers Association, fished at the Tunkhanna Fishing Association, and shot at the Weyhill Skeet Club.

He also enjoyed taking early morning hikes wherever he was and had great fun hiking trails of the Colorado mountains, the gardens of Nevis or daily excursions along the Little Lehigh and biking on LBI.

His enthusiasm for travel, food and wine, led him on adventures around the world with his wife.

They loved nothing more than spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He enjoyed visiting them at their homes in California, Colorado and Connecticut or vacationing with them in places such as Nevis and Vermont.

He especially enjoyed hosting all the children and grandchildren at their beach house on Long Beach Island.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his four children and 10 grandchildren: Jennifer (Shaffer) and Philip Maritz and children Cole, Olivia and Anna of Avon, Colo.; Susan (Shaffer) and Daniel Krebs Esq. and children Clay and Peter of San Anselmo, Calif.; Martha (Shaffer) Curtis and children Isobel and Jack of Fairfield, Conn.; and Richard W. Shaffer Jr., Esq. and his wife, Heather Shaffer, and children Christian, John and Alexandra of Allentown.

There will be a private burial ceremony.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Lehigh County Historical Society, 432 W. Walnut St., Allentown, PA 18102.

Arrangements made by J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown.