Barbara Ann Schaffner, 89, formerly of rural Waldron, MI, died Wednesday morning, November 2, 2016, at Fairlawn Haven Nursing Home in Archbold, OH, where she had resided since November of 2010. She was born August 2, 1927, in Pioneer, OH, to the late Cecil and Evah (Bigbee) Goble. She married Milton Lavon “Mick” Schaffner on October 6, 1946, in Fayette, and he preceded her in death on December 14, 2012.
Barb lived in several communities before moving to Fayette in elementary school. Barb attended Gorham-Fayette School where she graduated salutatorian in the class of 1945. She was an accomplished musician and attended Interlochen Music Camp between her Junior and Senior year of high school. Barb continued to live in the Fayette area the rest of her life.
Barb, a lifelong helpmate to her husband Mick, began farming in 1949 and continued until health conditions would no longer allow the physical work. After raising her children, she worked outside the home for her dear friends Bob and Elaine Eagle at Eagle Printing in Fayette, where she spent many enjoyable years. Barb was a longtime member of the Fayette United Methodist Church and the Fayette American Legion Auxiliary.
Surviving are four daughters, Kristine (Robert) Keiser of Fayette, Colleen (Merritt) Kimball of Worthington, OH, Marsha (Kim) Winzeler of Fayette, and Nancy (Trent) Lavinder of Fayette; a son, Philip Schaffner of Waldron; fourteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren; a great-great grandchild; and numerous step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Roger Goble; a great-grandson, Kellen Keiser; and a daughter-in-law, Christine Alig Schaffner.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the Fayette United Methodist Church with Pastor Andrea Curry officiating. Following, she will be laid to rest next to her husband in Pleasant View Union Cemetery in Fayette. The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, from 2-8 p.m. at the Eagle Funeral Home in Fayette.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may consider memorial donations in honor of Barb to the FUMC Family Life Center or the Fayette American Legion. Friends can share memories and words of comfort with the family online at www.eaglefuneralhomes.com