Francis Ivan “Jeff” Sheetz, 87, of Slippery Rock, formerly of Grove City, passed away Wednesday at his home following a two-year illness.

Jeff was born on Sept. 1, 1927, in New Port Richey, Fla., to the late Harold J. Sheetz and Elsie K. Myers Sheetz.

He graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., and did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He retired from Grove City College in 1990, where he was a Spanish professor, directed the Language Lab on campus and taught other courses.

Survivors include his partner of 48 years, Richard “Cris” Cristofoletti at home; his brother, Harold Raymond Sheetz and his wife, Betty, of Zelienople; his nephew, Richard Sheetz; his niece, Barbara Sheetz, and his numerous cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Sheetz— There will be no public visitation for Francis Ivan “Jeff” Sheetz, who passed away Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. Funeral services will be private.Memorial contributions may be given to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 200, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481. For more information, you may e-mail info@curealz.org.Arrangements are by the Smith Funeral Home, Slippery Rock.