Richard Shoemaker
Richard G. Shoemaker, more fondly known as “Shoe,” 74, of Chicora, passed away April 3, 2020, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Richard was born in Hagerstown, Md., on July 31, 1945. He was the son of the late Cecil and Sadie Young Shoemaker and was the oldest of three children.
He was a graduate of North Hagerstown High School and earned an associate's degree from the Community College of the Air Force.
Richard served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years in various roles. He was a Vietnam War veteran and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant. He served as a key member on the team that built Tomahawk missiles as a civilian working for the U.S. Navy.
Following his retirement from a distinguished military and civilian career, he and his wife relocated to Chicora, where Rich became a well-known and respected leader at the local American Legion Post in Chicora where he served as adjutant for many years and helped many other veterans and his local community until the end of his life.
Richard was a practicing Catholic at Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora, and was a dedicated family man.
His impeccable moral character was reflected in the way he lived his everyday life. His fun-loving side always took center stage. He was always quick with a smile, cracking a joke or a tease. That was Shoe. He is a man who will live in the hearts of everyone he touched.
He is survived by three children, his son, Curtis Shoemaker and his wife, Sherry, and his identical twin daughters, Tammy Wooten and her husband, Donald, and Debbie Laskey and her husband, George; eight grandchildren, Leah, Jordan, Nathaniel, Nicholas, Benjamin, Matthew, Elizabeth, and Katherine; his sister, Rosalie Bowers and her husband, Paul; his brother, Frank Shoemaker; his loving partner for the last two years, Ethel Semanco; as well as a number of nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 46 years, Barbara Neidermeyer Shoemaker.
SHOEMAKER — Mr. Shoemaker's family is planning a memorial Mass at a later date.A private blessing service will be held at Hile Funeral Home of Chicora.Military honors will be accorded by the American Legion Post in Chicora.Interment will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery in the Village of North Oakland.The family asks that Richard be remembered through prayers and Catholic Masses.For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.
