Robert E. 'Lefty' Chaffins, 87

Robert E. "Lefty" Chaffins, 87, passed away in Spokane, Wash., on Feb. 7, 2008.

A memorial service will be held at the Heritage Funeral home in Spokane on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at 1 p.m.Robert was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, on March 29, 1920. He graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1938 and played baseball and softball for various Sandpoint teams. Robert worked for Schaefer-Hitchcock Co. in Sandpoint and Bovill as plant manager and retired as vice president for production from B.J. Carney Company with responsibility for five production plants in Idaho, Washington, California and Minnesota. Robert was a member of the Northport American Legion, Valley Rotary Club, Liberty Lake Men's Club, Meadow-wood Men's Club, Inland Empire Seniors, Liberty Lake Over-the-Hill-Gang, and AWPA National. He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, serving in World War II and the Korean War. He played in the U.S. National Senior Open. He is survived by his spouse of 66 years, Mary Jane Chaffins (Durand); children, Gary L. Chaffins of Springfield, Ore., and Janis R Lovelady (Charles) of Spokane; a brother, Dick Campbell (Jane) of Nye, Mont.; a sister, Betty Strand (Garey) of Post Falls, Idaho; grandchildren, Amanda English (Brett); Jason Lovelady (Jet) and Adrian and Beau Chaffins; a great-grandson, Logan Chaffins; a sister-in-law, Mable Penrod; nieces, Lisa Knudtsen, Doris Nuss (Rothenfluh) and Joyce Spracklen (Rothenfluh); nephew, Douglas Penrod; and several other nieces and nephews. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association.