Cleveland resident Robert Amos Schaeffer, 82, died unexpectedly July 1.
Born April 2, 1930 in Baxter, he was married to the former Grace Sadler Schaeffer on Aug. 20, 1983. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walker Amos and Edna Elizabeth Burns Schaeffer; his wife; stepson, Larry Wayne Saddler and cousin, Thomas Nelson.
He was a graduate of McMinnville High School at age 16 and attended seminary for one year before going to Tennessee Tech. Upon graduation in 1950, he joined the U.S. Army where he trained in cartography and charted various oceans including the Arctic. After military service he worked for the U.S. government and traveled the world extensively. He retired from government service in 1971 and returned to McMinnville where he was systems analyst for Carrier. He then moved to Williston, Fla., and then settled in Cleveland where he worked for the Tennessee Department of Environmental Health and Safety until his retirement. He was a Rotarian, Ruritan, VFW officer and had various other affiliations both social and religious in Cleveland.
He is survived by sister, Mary Ada Mitchell of Hamden, Conn.; stepson, Jerry Sadler of Chattanooga; stepdaughters, Lisa Sadler of Cleveland, Donna (Randell) Doty of Gainesville, Fla.; step-grandchildren, Jennifer Saddler of Corrigan, Texas, Larry Saddler II and Megan Saddler of Norwalk, Iowa; special daughter, Tracie Phillips of Cleveland; special granddaughter, Bonnie Phillips of Cleveland; several cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at New Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation Plant Trees in Memory program or plant a tree in his honor.
Jim Rush Funeral Home of Cleveland is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) July 6, 2012