Roscoe Ralph Schaffert, a long-time resident of Downey, passed away on Saturday, February 22, 2014 of natural causes. Roscoe graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1942 with a major in Biochemistry, and worked at the Wadsworth Medical Center Veterans Hospital from 1946 - 1979. Roscoe was commissioned as a First Lieutenant (1 LT) in the U. S. Army Reserve Medical Service Corps (MSC) in 1949 and assigned as a Biochemist to the Research & Development command. He retired as a Colonel (COL) from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1979.

From 1980-2002 Roscoe worked as a volunteer docent at the Los Angeles Zoo, La Brea Tar Pits, County Museum of Natural History, and El Dorado Nature Center. Roscoe is an emeritus member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), and National Registry of Certified Chemists (NRCC). He is also a California Licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS).

He was predeceased by Virginia his wife of 65 years. Roscoe is survived by his sister, Lorraine & Dick Witt; his five children: Susan & Chuck Johnson, Jean Schaffert, Christine & Dick Flutts, Joyce Shopfner, Jeffrey & Gloria Schaffert; his twelve grandchildren; and his twelve great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Monday, March 3 at 1 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Downey. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Downey.

********** Published: Feb. 27, 2014 - Volume 12 - Issue 46