SHAFF, Wilbur Alonzo - b. December 10, 1915 - d. February 25, 2007

[Janet Harrington]

(The Flint Hills Express, April 18, 2007, page 3)

Wilber Alonzo Shaff, 91, formerly of Grenola and Winfield, died Feb. 25, 2007, in the Methodist nursing home in Fort Smith, Ark.

Wilber was born Dec. 10, 1915, in Grenola, to Gladys and Lee Shaff.  He resided in Grenola for most of his life and attended Grenola Schools.

In August 1943, he married Sarah Irene McDade.

Wilber operated a mobile service station in Grenola for several years and later partnered with his father in running Shaff's Garage.  After his father's death, Wilber was assisted at the garage by his wife, Irene.

In 1981, he sold the garage, and the couple moved to Winfield where they resided until moving to Fort Smith in 2005 to be near their daughter, Janis, and son-in-law, Tom Gipson.

Irene moved into the Village, and Wilber was admitted to the nursing home.

Wilber was a lover of the outdoors.  He enjoyed gardening for many years in Grenola and Winfield and could always find a place to plant "one more tree."

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gladys and Lee Shaff; a sister, Bonnie Hardin, and two infant sisters, Marjorie Shaff and Betty Jean Shaff.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sarah Irene Shaff, Fort Smith; a daughter, Janis Gipson, and her husband, Tom, Van Buren, Ark.; a son, Steven Shaff and his wife, Donna, Gold Canyon, Ariz., a granddaughter, Jan Colley, Bentonville, Ark.; and two sisters, Doris Fisher, and her husband, Dick, Leawood, and Mary Christine, Tempe, Ariz.

The body was cremated under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.  Cremains will be buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery with a brief memorial service on Sunday, April 29, at 2 p.m.