George Richard Shaffer, Sr., 82, of Forest, Virginia, passed into the arms of Jesus on August 19, 2026.

He loved his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and was deeply thankful for the wonderful life God had given him. His faith was at the very heart of who he was and guided the way he lived, loved, served, and cared for others. He cherished his family deeply and sought to leave them with a legacy of faith, love, integrity, and devotion to the Lord. Through his words, his example, and the way he lived his life, he shared his love for Christ with his children, grandchildren, and those around him. Most recently, he was a member of North Bedford Baptist Church in Forest, Virginia. Prior to that, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Charlottesville, where he faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher and Deacon for 18 years. The words of Romans 10:9 expressed the faith he held so dear: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 52 years, Rosa Lee Shaffer. She was the biggest of God’s many blessings in his life. She was a Proverbs 31 wife and his loyal, loving companion and God-given partner. God also blessed him with a wonderful family. He is survived by his daughters, Christina Rogers (Arthur Rogers) and Jessica Berry (Jonathan Berry), and his son, George R. Shaffer, Jr. (Mary Shaffer). He is also survived by his grandchildren, George Arthur Rogers, Isadora Rogers, Rowe Berry, Norabel Berry, Finleigh Berry, and George Richard Shaffer, III. Another grandson, Caedmon Peter Rogers, preceded him in death. He is also survived by his daughter, Kathleen Pellicci, originally of Chillum, Maryland and he had a son, Timothy, originally of Chillum, Maryland, who predeceased him.

George was born on February 10, 1944, in Washington, D.C., to florist Arthur J. “Dutch” Shaffer and Nellie (Gray) Shaffer and grew up in Southeast Washington.

He pursued a 35-year career as an executive at AT&T, working in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and New Jersey. George greatly enjoyed mentoring junior employees throughout his career. After his retirement from AT&T in 1998, George joined the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, where he served for 15 years as Senior Director of Executive Education. At both AT&T and the Darden School, he greatly enjoyed his work, particularly the study and application of leadership and management practices and always sought to make a positive contribution to the organizations he served.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1966–1968 and was stationed with the 3rd Infantry Division in Aschaffenburg, Germany.

He graduated from Benjamin Franklin University School of Accountancy in Washington, D.C. He was also a graduate of the University of Maryland, where he studied business administration.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday August 27, 2026 at 12:00 P.M. at North Bedford Baptist Church, 4310 Coffee Rd., Forest, VA 24551, with Pastor Chad Brady officiating. Interment will be at Culpeper National Cemetery, with Dr. Don Hicks officiating.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Andrew Romano and the nurses and staff at the Phillips Cancer Center at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital for their loving and tender care of George. The team’s dedication to George over the last ten years will always be remembered with deep appreciation.

Memorial contributions may be made to North Bedford Baptist Church, P.O Box 153, Forest Va, 24551, in memory of George Shaffer, Sr.

Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.