John E. Sheaffer

John Earl Sheaffer, age 70, of Pittsburgh passed away peacefully after a six month battle with pancreatic cancer, surrounded by his family. He was born in Ephrata, PA on January 13, 1949. John was the son of the late Earl Sheaffer and Edna Hilton Miller. He graduated from Scotland School for Veterans' Children in 1966. John enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Washington, D.C. and Germany and worked in the hospital as a Med Tech. After his discharge from the Army, he went on to graduate from IUP and later completed his Masters of Science at the University of Pittsburgh. John spent over 40 years working as a Microbiologist, the last 20 at the University of Pitt Presby. He married his first wife, Dorothy, in 1972, was a proud father of two beautiful daughters Rebecca (grandchildren Mercedes, Sidney & Stevon) and Barbara Sheaffer (Danielle Gilmore) and (grandchildren Madeline, Ethan, Eva, and Sofia) John has been with his current wife, Ginny (Larson) Sheaffer for 22 years and he has 3 stepsons, Matthew (Megan) Watland (grandaughters Kaileigh & Hallie), Jesse and Michael Watland (granddaughters Lyssa, Kelsey & Avery). His loving wife Ginny was also an alumni of the University of Pittsburgh and worked in healthcare for 30 years. John retired in 2012, he loved spending time with his grandchildren, he had a great sense of humor, was a volunteer at the Polls. He was also an active member in AA with 20 years of recovery. He was a very intelligent, caring man, loved by many. His greatest assets were in family and friends. He will be sadly missed. He was preceded in death by his two sisters Pat (Bruce) Loar and Linda (Rickey) Price. He was also preceded in death by his "mom and dad" Douglas and Mildred Beck. He is survived by two sisters, Betty Loose and Sally Sheaffer (Lynn McJunkin), a step brother Dan Beck (Carolyn Horvath). He has 4 nieces, Lisa (Brian) Bender (grandniece Briana) Kara (John) and (grandniece Amy), Kathy Trinclisti and Amy Rabickow (great nephew Ethan). Friends may call Thursday, February 14, from 1-3 P.M. at O'Brien's Funeral Home, 3724 California at Cooper Aves. N.S. where a blessing service will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pancreatic Cancer Research. Please mail to: Development Office, UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Suite 1B, 5150 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 or online at www.upci.upmc.edu under support and donation. Memorial contributions are also being sent to Pittsburgh AA organization at www.pghaa.org 

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