Roger Harris Pfahler

Roger Harris Pfahler, age 81, of 3233 Stein Road, Shelby, died Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at the Crestwood Care Center in Shelby , after a long battle with cancer.

A life long Shelby resident, Roger was born March 22, 1922 in Shelby, the son of the late Orin H. and Amy Ott (Rogers) Pfahler. He was a 1940 graduate of Shelby High School and attended The Ohio State University. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, where he was a pilot of a C-47 aircraft in the China-Burma-India Theater and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, he remained in the Air Force Reserves and retired as a Major. He was a charter member of the United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop #403 beginning in 1935 and remained affiliated with the troop continually except during his WWII military service. As a Boy Scout, he received the Eagle Scout award; As and adult he served as Scoutmaster for 37 years receiving the Wood Badge and Silver Beaver awards.

Roger retired in 1982, after 37 years of service, from the Shelby Mutual Insurance Company, where he worked in the under-writing department. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Shelby, where he sang in the choir. He served on the Oakland Cemetery Board and was a Meals on Wheels volunteer for many years. Roger was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed sailing, camping, gardening, skiing, bird watching and traveling.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Palmer) Pfahler whom he wed on October 6, 1945; 2 daughters and their spouses, Ellen and Robert Morris of Cincinnati and Beth and Steve Rogers of Nashua, NH; a son and his wife, David Lee and Terry Pfahler of Pierre, SD; 7 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Scott H. Pfahler in 1972, and a sister, Maryanna Pfahler Andregg.

Calling hours will be on Saturday, November 1, 2003 from 10:00 AM – Noon at the Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby. Funeral services will be conducted at 12:30 PM at First United Methodist Church in Shelby, with Rev. Gail Angel officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Shelby with military honors conducted by Shelby American Legion. Memorial expressions may be made to First United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop # 403 or Boy Scouts of America.