Roy, age 90, passed away on 05 June 2026, surrounded by family and friends. He was a resident of Colorado Springs, CO since 1984. He retired at the rank of Chief Master Sergeant from the United States Air Force (Peterson Air Force Base (AFB)) effective 01 July 1988, serving over 30 years.
He was born on 06 November 1935 to William Albert Shaffer and Helen Dorothy (Pearson) Shaffer in Indianapolis, Indiana, as the second oldest of four children, and later a half-sister and half-brother. On 28 November 1959, Roy married Annena Jeroma Perrelle in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Roy served from 1954-1957 as a ground radio operator for one year in Dhahran Air Base (AB), Saudi Arabia and a consecutive year in RAF Croughton, United Kingdom. He declined a third overseas tour in as many years, returned to Indiana, and became a dancing instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studio. One day while teaching, Annena Perrelle entered the studio eager to learn ballroom dancing. After following protocol, Roy and Annena quickly partnered on the dance floor, eventually married and Roy re-enlisted in the Air Force in 1961.
Over the next 27 years, Roy and Annena raised five children living the military life stateside at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, Goodfellow AFB, Texas, Offutt AFB, Nebraska and Peterson AFB, Colorado as well as overseas at Yokota AB, Japan, Rhein Main AB, Germany (two different tours), DaNang Airfield, Vietnam (1970-1971), Athens, Greece and SHAPE, Belgium. In the fields of Avionic Communications and Navigation Systems and Information Systems, Roy completed numerous temporary duty assignments as well as training and professional military education courses stateside and abroad and earned various accolades and awards over his 30-year career. They became grandparents of twelve grandchildren between 1987-2006. Roy also earned title of great-grandfather of nine between 2010-2025.
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Fortunato & Maria (Caruso) Perrelle, wife, oldest sister & husband Shirley (Clyde) Sappingfield, brother Ronald T. Shaffer, sister-in-law Marilyn Shaffer, half-brother Johnny Hathaway, son-in-law Mitchell Hamdeed and daughter-in-law Shirley Shaffer, brothers- and sisters-in-law Anthony & Edith Perrelle, Joseph & Elizabeth Perrelle, George & Margaret Perrelle and Nicholas & Patricia Perrelle, as well as several nephews and nieces.
He is survived by brother Fred W. Shaffer, half-sister Sherril (John) Ward and sister-in-law Carol Verbonitz, Children: Roy E. Shaffer, Jr; Summer N. (Shaffer) Hamdeed; Ronald T. (Debbie) Shaffer; Dawn M. (Shaffer) Sloan; and Roman A. (Hiroko) Shaffer, Grandchildren: Sandra (Nathan) Walker, Debbie (Keith) Turner and Jonathan Shaffer; Eric (Leslie) Hamdeed, Everett (Basia) Hamdeed, Elliott (Erin) Hamdeed, Elijah Hamdeed and Annena (Hamdeed) Tomaszewski; Kenneth (Dusty) Delmese and Atticus Shaffer; Ralph Sloan and Sam Sloan; Drake Shaffer, Lance Shaffer, Kana Shaffer and Mina Shaffer, Great-Grandchildren: Christine Walker, Ben (Cali) Walker, Cory (Katie) Turner and Alex Turner, Katelynn Shaffer, Baylee Shaffer and Emily Shaffer; Melanie Cammarata and Reggie (Kirsten) Hamdeed, George Hamdeed, Adrian Hamdeed and Logan Hamdeed, Casey Hamdeed, and Addison Tomaszewski and Elizabeth Tomaszewski; as well as numerous nephews and nieces and their offspring!
Although Roy earned a successful career and lived a long, full life, he would say he did not do it alone. Roy and Annena Shaffer loved God, Country and Family! They always looked forward to (and regularly attended) the annual family reunions, all family socials near and far and many other family occasions over the years! They supported their family every chance possible!
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, at Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 East Fountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80910, 719-634-1597. Military honors and inurnment will immediately follow at 12:00 p.m. at Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80925, 719-391-6920.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to charity of choice.
Please feel free to share condolences, short stories, funny occasions, and/or memorable moments below.
My deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the entire family during this time. I remember meeting my best friend Elliott’s grandparents when we both attended Divine Redeemer Catholic School. We were both on the basketball team and I remember seeing them at every game cheering us on. And afterwards coming up to us to congratulate us on a good game. He was a good, kind, and faithful man and it makes me happy that he is now reunited again with his dear wife forever.
Rip Uncle Roy, we always enjoyed have him stay at the Perrelle bed and no breakfast during family reunions…the reason no breakfast was he would be up and out to meet friends before we would be awake. We will miss you sorely.
The Buckley SFB military Retiree Activities Office (RAO) would like to offer our sincere condolences and our gratitude for Mr. Shaffer’s 30 years of distinguished service to our country in the Air Force. If you would like help with any matters related to casualty assistance, Defense Finance & Accounting Service, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Veterans Affairs (VA), etc. you can contact our office on Buckley SFB at 720-847-6693 or raobuckley@gmail.com. The RAO is staffed by volunteers, all military retirees themselves, and our sole purpose is to provide assistance to any military retirees and surviving spouses/family members with anything related to their military service and/or benefits, in particular during difficult times such as this. We are deeply sorry for your loss.
Steve Young
Lt Col, USAF, Ret
Director, Buckley SFB RAO
We will always remember the conversations and laughter we shared with Roy when visiting Mitch, Summer, and family! His warm and welcoming demeanor, he was a class act and as Jack says “a true American” please accept our sincere condolences and may you Rest In Peace now Roy and God be with you.
Roy will be missed, definitely by us. His family loved him very much and we did also. He was a very kind and loving man.
We will be out of town for his service, but he will be in our prayers!
Kathy & Joe Suhar
RIP my longtime Air Force buddy! We had great times overseas and here in Nebraska.
My heart aches for my wonderful brother. Words cannot express the shock and sadness I feel. My go to guy when I wanted to know something. For me he knew everything.
I am so fortunate to have had such a wonderful brother. Roy, at one time or another, provided some kind of advice, assistance and help to all of his brothers, sisters, in-laws, and friends. We all need a brother or sister with such a beautiful and giving heart.
We Shaffers and others are so proudly blessed.