Joseph M. Shoemaker

Joseph M. Shoemaker, 88, of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, husband of Louise (Pat) Shoemaker died Tuesday, January 21, 2014. The relatives and friends of Joseph Shoemaker are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 in Stella Maris Catholic Church, 1204 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island at 11:00 am. Prayers of Final Commendation and Farewell will follow in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL. The family will receive friends at Stella Maris for the rosary one hour before service.

Joseph was born March 9, 1925 in New Haven, Kentucky, son of the late John Albert Shoemaker and the late Delaney Berry Shoemaker. He served in the United States Army Air Corp. during World War II. Afterwards he graduated from the University of Kentucky and retired as a Pharmacist after 35 years. He was actively involved in community theater performances in Connersville, IN. He participated in and led musical activities at various Catholic Churches, most recently Stella Maris at Sullivan Island, SC. Also served meals weekly and volunteered monthly for the Crisis Ministry.

He is survived by his wife of 66+ years, Louise (Pat) Shoemaker of Carolina Beach, NC; three sons, J. Michael Shoemaker of Portland, OR; John Robert Shoemaker of Portland, OR; and W. Christopher Shoemaker of Bloomington, IN; two daughters, Anne Pugh of Carolina Beach, NC; and Lynn Spangler of Timberlake, NC; eight grandchildren Kelly (Spangler) Mallaby of San Diego, CA; Jeff Pugh of Breckenridge, CO; Megan (Spangler) Gustafson of Blair, NE; Angie Shoemaker-Ramirez of Portland, OR; Cammie (Shoemaker) Wiggins, of Martinsville, IN; Joe Pugh, of Charleston, WV; Chantay (Shoemaker) Watson, and Shannon (Shoemaker) Guidry both of Bloomington, IN; twelve great-grandchildren and a sister Mildred Hammel of Eldon, MO. He was preceded in death by sisters Grant Oldham, Dorothy Sheckler, and Jean Keller.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256 or Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation, 1414 Physicians Dr, Wilmington, NC 28401.