- Date Of Birth: March 12, 1932
- Date Of Death: September 12, 2021
- State: Illinois
Edward Bailey Shafer, 89, of St. Jacob, IL, born Saturday, March 12, 1932 in Lakewood, OH and passed away on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, IL.
Ed served his Country faithfully in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was raised in Lakewood Ohio. Graduated Lakewood High School and Ohio State University with a BS in Agricultural Engineering.
Ed and Lois began flying lessons in 1962 and quickly earned private pilot, instrument, and commercial ratings. In 1967 Ed became a flight instructor and over the past six decades taught hundreds of people to fly. Ed and Lois moved to St. Jacob in 1969 and in 1975 developed the St. Louis Metro-east Airport Shafer Field.
The Illinois Department of Transportation recognized Shafer Field as the Private General Aviation Airport of the Year in 1998, 2003, and 2018. In 2019 Ed was awarded the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” award for 50 years of dedicated service to aviation safety. Ed will be remembered by his many friends and family as a kind man and patient teacher who was quick with a story and a laugh.
Preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Lois Marie Shafer (nee Vogt); his son Michael Rex Shafer, 2 great grandchildren, Midnight and Berlin Purcell; a brother, James Shafer and his sister, Ann Homan.
Surviving are his son, Mark Edward Shafer; daughters, Melinda Ann Purcell-Shafer and Melissa Lynn Shafer, 9 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and his brother, William (Judy) Shafer.
