Robert E. Chaffer

Published 2:00 am Saturday, September 3, 2011

Funeral services for Robert E. Chaffer, age 85, of Athens, will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3, 2011, at Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Athens with the Rev. E. David Basinger Jr. officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 2:45 p.m. in the church social hall.

His grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Mr. Chaffer was born in Rochester, N.Y., the son of Florence and Elmer Chaffer. He served in the U.S. Army Engineers from 1944-46. He is a 1951 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New Haven, Connecticut and for 24 years, he was a Unit Manager and later District Manager for Slater Food Service which became Aramark, Inc., living in Hamilton, Ohio, Baltimore, Maryland and Richmond, Virginia. In 1989 Bob received the Alabama Hospitality award from the Alabama Hotel & Motel Association. A certified hotel administrator, he and his wife Martha owned and managed the Welcome Inn Motel and Restaurant in Athens for 20 years until their retirement.

For more than 60 years he was a member of the Masons, and was a member of the Scottish Rite and the Shrine. He was a member and past president of the Alabama Motel Association and a board member of the Athens/Limestone County Chamber of Commerce and the American Hotel Association. He was a member and past senior warden of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church where he is active in the Men’s Club. He is predeceased by his brother Elmer Roy Chaffer and a grandson, John Hoffman.

Mr. Chaffer is survived by his wife of 44 years, Martha Chaffer; three children, Brenda Hollingsworth and husband Rabon of Sandersville, Ga., Peggy Hoffman and husband John of Guilford, Ind., and Ben Hicks and wife Marty of Montgomery; seven grandchildren: Robert Craig Hollingsworth of Sandersville, Ga., Mark David Hollingsworth of Ripley, Miss., Scot Rabon Hollingsworth of Orange Park, Fla., Edward Lloyd Hoffman and wife Becky of Connersville, Ind., Kendra DeRegules and husband Alex of San Diego, Calif., Jay Benjamin Hicks and wife Terra, Stephanie Hicks and Nick Smith of Hixson, Tenn.; six great-grandchildren; and a nephew, Elmore Roy Chaffer III of Sparks, Nev.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 207 E. Washington St., Athens, AL, 35611, or to The Gideons International.

Limestone Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.