James Delbert Shafer

FORT WORTH -- James Delbert Shafer, 85, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Celebration of life: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Shannon Rose Hill Funeral Chapel, 7301 E. Lancaster, Fort Worth. Interment: Shannon Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation: 9 to 10 a.m. before the service.

James was born in Wichita Falls on May 13, 1926, to Jack Clifton Shafer and Annie Myrtle Curfman Shafer. The family moved to Fort Worth when he was 4 years old.

James served nearly three years in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and held the rank of sergeant when he was discharged on April 13, 1947. He was on Okinawa when the first atomic bomb was dropped. His unit of Marines was immediately sent to China to protect the Chinese from the Japanese, where the Marines were "gloriously received." He served in the occupation of China for 15 months.

He worked for 40 years for John L. Ashe Clothing Co., Fort Worth, before retiring on Dec. 24, 1990. James was a faithful member of the Handley Baptist Church, Fort Worth, and the Lamar Baptist Church, Arlington, for many years.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Peggy Ann Hoffman Shafer; his son, Danny Shafer; sister and husband, Helen Shafer and Earnest Wilson; sister-in-law, Sherrie Hoffman Arnold.