Sadly, our Westminster High School class of 1971 classmate, Linda
Louise Shafer, passed away on June 27, 2017.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, colleagues,
loved-ones and friends. She will be missed.
Linda Louise Shafer of Silver Spring, MD, formerly of
Westminster, MD, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2017, after a long illness.
She was born on July 24, 1953, to Lindsay and Louise Shafer
of Westminster, MD. After graduating from Westminster High School in 1971,
Linda attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, where she obtained a Bachelor's
Degree in 1975. She received a Master of Divinity in 1979 from the Union
Theological Seminary in New York and, later, a Ph.D. in Sociology in 1994 from
American University in Washington, DC.
She served as Deacon, Elder, Associate Pastor, and Pastor in
the United Methodist Church, Baltimore-Washington Conference, from 1979 to
1989.
From 1989 to 2011, Linda was engaged in research project
leadership, review, and analysis in the fields of education, health, and human
services, most recently with the American Institutes for Research.
Linda had a strong calling to serve others, but her greatest
joy and commitment was to her son, Arkee. She was also a very generous, loyal, and
supportive friend. Linda's favorite pastimes included cake decorating,
knitting, reading, and singing in her church choir.
In addition to Arkee, Linda is survived by her brother Larry
and his wife Pamela Shafer of Westminster, MD, her brother Lee and his wife
Donna Shafer of Big Piney, WY, and eight nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to celebrate Linda's life will be held at
the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, July 16, 2017. In
lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Linda's name to the
Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, 310 Tulip Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912.