James Lee Shoemaker, 90, formerly of Hollidaysburg, passed away Tuesday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Sandra.
He was born in Altoona, son of Charles C. and Mary C. (Kimmel) Shoemaker. He married Ruby Marie Lindsey on Jan. 31, 1949, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Hollidaysburg, and she passed away Sept. 15, 1982.
Surviving are a son, James L. Jr. (Jill) of Lebanon, Pa.; a daughter, Sandra A. Lear (Carl) of Altoona; four grandchildren: Jamie Shoemaker, Josiah Shoemaker, Matthew (Jennifer) Lear and Rebecca (Nathan) Kline; nine great-grandchildren; a stepson, Irving Lindsey of Blairsville; and a brother, Carl (Frances Marie) of Norristown.
James was a 1941 graduate of Hollidaysburg High School and attended The Citadel for one year. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. He retired as a machinist from F.L. Smithe Machine Co. He spent more than 30 years in government service, 16 of those as the mayor of Hollidaysburg, where he had also served as a councilman.
James was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Hollidaysburg, where he was a member of the Men’s Club. He was also a member of the 4th-degree Knights of Columbus, Star of the Sea Council, Hollidaysburg, where he was a past Grand Knight, as well as the Hollidaysburg American Legion, serving many years as adjutant. He enjoyed reading the Altoona Mirror.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, at Plank, Stitt & Stevens Funeral Home, 421 Montgomery St., Hollidaysburg. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Hollidaysburg, by Father Clement Gardner. Interment will be at Greenlawn Cemetery, Hollidaysburg.
The family requests that donations be made to the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library, 405 Clark St., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648, or St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 301 Spruce St., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648, in memory of Jim |