Charlotte Louise

Shaffer

Shaffer
Charlotte

Charlotte Shaffer, a retired executive and community leader who helped shape the fabric of Toledo's social services network, passed away on June 29 at Sunset Village in Sylvania. Having served the Toledo Area for more than 50 years, she had a great commitment to the community and her church. She was 90 years old.
Mrs. Shaffer served as Vice President of the Northwestern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and prior to serving as Vice President, she served as Regional Coordinator for Region VI consisting of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. An active member of Olivet Lutheran Church, she was a leader of its Capital Campaign, the Master Building team and chairman of the Call Committee and had served as the congregation president. She also served as board president for Lutheran Social Services.
Her career in human services began in the 1950s. She became the executive of the Toledo Council of Social Agencies during the 1960s and actively sought grant opportunities for needed human services.
Mrs. Shaffer served as executive director of the Community Planning Council of Northwest Ohio, and in the capacity conducted numerous community need assessments and evaluation studies for the Community Chest, which is now known as the United Way of Greater Toledo. She was instrumental in the formation of the Toledo Northwest Ohio Food Bank, the Child Care Coordinating Council, Senior Centers Inc., United Central Services, United Health Services and many other local social service agencies. During her time at the Community Planning Council, she was responsible for the creation of the Area Office on Aging, which has become one of her most notable legacies. She guided programming and services to meet the growing needs of seniors and family caregivers. She was a life member of the Area Office on Aging's Board of Directors.
Mrs. Shaffer served as the International President of Quota International, a professional women's service organization. She also served local Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, is a past president and was appointed a life member of the Board. She is one of three honorary members of the Junior League of Toledo, awarded for contributions to volunteerism in the community. She was also inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens' Hall of Fame. Mrs. Shaffer also received the YWCA's Milestones Award.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Shaffer, who was a long-time professor at the University of Toledo.
She represented a positive image of aging with a lifestyle defined not by age, but by her contributions and service that impact the future for elders. While it was her time to go Home, she will be deeply missed and never forgotten by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Visitation will be Saturday, July 2, from 10-11 a.m. at Olivet Lutheran Church, 5840 Monroe Street, Sylvania, OH with funeral services beginning at 11 a.m. Interment Ottawa Hills Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are preferred to The Toledo Community Foundation – Harold and Charlotte Shaffer Fund, 300 Madison Ave., Ste 300, Toledo, OH 43604
Arrangements entrusted to the Foth-Dorfmeyer Mortuary
Online condolences may be made at www.fothdorfmeyer.com.