Theodore “Ted” Pfarrer

Dr. Theodore R. Pfarrer, age 88 of Cleveland, Georgia, who passionately loved life, country and family, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 8, 2016. Born in the Bronx, New York on June 13, 1928, he grew up in New York, Tennessee, and Alabama. He was a resident of Cleveland, Georgia since 1990.  

Ted had a lifetime love for learning.  He graduated from Margaretville High School in Margaretville, New York, in 1945. He then joined the Army Air Corp, where he completed numerous military service schools, learning military communications and cryptology maintenance. Ted soon thereafter, in 1947, transferred into the newly created U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1972 after 27 ½ years of honorable military service.  He continued his education, this time in library science, earning his Bachelors degree from Florida Technological Institute in 1976 and his Doctorate’s Degree from Florida State University in 1989 at the age of 61.  He was an early pioneer in the use of CD-ROM technology for library reference purposes.

Ted was a longtime member of Cleveland First Baptist Church and The American Legion. He was an avid bowler into his early 80’s, proudly bowling almost twice his age.  His other varied hobbies over the years included being a licensed HAM radio operator, model railroading, woodworking, genealogy, computer technology, reading, and of course, listening to his wife’s piano playing. His military career stoked a love for travel. Military assignments took him and his family to such overseas places as England, Brazil, Alaska, and Germany.  With a lifetime of wonderful memories, a few especially memorable events included observing the ill-fated Hindenburg airship pass over his Bronx home in 1937, his 1969 trip with son Mark on a German special excursion train pulled by a steam locomotive, and taking a week-long bicycle trip along the Danube River with his son Richard in 2002.

Ted was predeceased by his parents Charles Frederick Pfarrer and Margaret Morrison Pfarrer.  Survivors include his loving wife of nearly 66 years, Dorothy E. Pfarrer, Cleveland; sons and daughters-in-law, Mark D. and Rebecca Pfarrer, Bowie, MD; Richard A. and Julie Pfarrer, Colorado Springs, CO; daughter and son-in-law, Christine A. and Vernon Knepprath, Damascus, OR; daughter, Janet L. Capps, Tallahassee, FL; grandchildren, Daniel Pfarrer, Steven Knepprath, Sarah Nold, Paulina Fernandez Luengo, Madison Capps, David Knepprath; and great grandchildren, Emilio Fernandez Luengo, Wyatt Knepprath, Barrett Knepprath, and Ada Marie Knepprath.  He will be greatly missed and forever cherished.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at The Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home. The Rev. Bucky Erwin and the Rev. Dennis Turner will officiate. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 – 2:00 PM Wednesday prior to the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607 or Cleveland First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 250 Cleveland, GA 30528.

Online condolences can be made to the family at barrettfh.com.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland.