Phyllis (Craven) Shafer, former corporate secretary and vice president-administration at Muncie Power Products, passed away at the age of 86 on December 4, 2012, at Westminster Village in Muncie, Indiana.
Shafer was born on December 18, 1925, in Muncie, Indiana and graduated from Burris High School and Ball State University. She was employed at Muncie Power for 50 years before her retirement in 2007. With the leadership of her late husband, Hamer D. Shafer, the couple grew Muncie Power Products to be a leader in the auxiliary truck parts industry.
Shafer was the first woman to be appointed to the Ball State University Foundation board, where she served as both the board’s president and chairman of the board for 15 years. In 1978, the Ball State Alumni Association presented her with the Bennie Award for her outstanding service to the university. The Miller College of Business inducted her into the Hall of Fame in 1987. She was presented with the President’s Medal of Distinction in 1990—the third recipient of this prestigious award.
In 1997, the University’s Board of Trustees named the Foundation Administrative Suite in the Alumni Center in her honor. The Shafers were also honored for their numerous contributions to Ball State University with the naming of the most prominent campus landmark, the Shafer Tower in 2000.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Shafer was held on December 12, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Dr. Ronald Naylor officiating. Entombment was at Elm Ridge Mausoleum.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Youth Opportunity Center Foundation, 3700 West Kilgore Avenue, Muncie, IN 47304; The Hamer and Phyllis Shafer Fund, c/o Ball State University Foundation, PO Box 672, Muncie, IN 47308-0672; The Hamer D. and Phyllis C. Shafer Fund or Village Foundation Fund (Westminster Village), c/o The Community Foundation, PO Box 807, Muncie, IN 47308-0807; the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, c/o Ball State University, 2000 University Avenue, Muncie, IN 47306; Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation, 2401 West University Avenue, Muncie, IN 47303-9919.