.

Vertrude Leah Shafer,

92, of Bruceton Mills (Brandonville community), WV, died Thursday, June 28, 2018, at the Mon Health Medical Center, Morgantown, WV.

The daughter of the late Harold H. and Minnie C. Ryan Thomas, she was born May 24, 1926, in Brandonville.
She was a lifelong member of the Brandonville United Methodist Church and, later, a member of the Glade Farms Community Church.  For 65 years, she and her husband, Herbert, owned and operated the Shafer's (Herbie's) Store and Service Station.  An active bee keeper for 40 years, she was a life member of the WV Bee Keepers' Association and a member of Marion and Monongalia County Bee Keeper' Association.  She was a member of the Bruceton-Brandonville VFW Post 2523 Ladies Auxiliary.
Vertrude is survived by three daughters: Vivian Ryan and her husband, Kenneth, of Brandonville, Corel Shafer of Brandonville, and Hannah Reese and her husband, William, of Middleburg, PA; nine grandchildren and their spouses: Nancy and Jon Lilly, Patti and Tim Miller, Cindy Nolan, Katie and Phil Conley, Rebekah and Zach DesJardins, Sarah and Stephen Miller, David and Victoria Reese, Rebekah and Jason Corbin and Jeremy and Rebekah Ann Reese; and twenty four great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; a sister, Arthelia Dixon; and a sister-in-law, Betty Thomas.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Shafer; and two brothers: Ward C. Thomas, and Harold (Pee Wee) Thomas.
Family and friends may call at the Carl R. Spear Funeral Home in Brandonville-Bruceton Mills on Saturday from 6-8 p.m., Sunday from 2-8 p.m., and Monday, July 2, 2018, from 12 noon until the 1:00 p.m. service in the funeral chapel, with Pastors Charles Teets, Gary Reed and Richard Sisler officiating.  Burial will follow in the Shady Grove Cemetery, Bruceton Mills.
Condolences: spearfuneralhome.net