Clyde E. Shoemaker

Clyde E. Shoemaker age 103, of Millville, after a long and full life, passed away at his beloved farm in Pine Township on November 15, 2022. He is survived by his three sons: Bruce Irvin, James Richard and Martin Phillip, six grandchildren: Tara Holdren, Tiffany Shoemaker, Whitney Shoemaker, Jamie Shoemaker, Stephanie Shoemaker and Braden Shoemaker and seven great grandchildren: Kelly, Will, Graham, Emery, Gunnar, Tay and Addie.

Clyde was born June 21, 1919 the son of Irvin Bruce and Mary Ella Shoemaker. He was predeceased by his infant sister Ivy, his two brothers Carl and Charles, and his wives Catherine Malencore and Lucille Moyer. Clyde is also survived by Lucille’s children:  Frank Moyer, David Moyer, and Mary Moyer Stewart and their children. 

Clyde was raised in Fernville and graduated from Bloomsburg High School where he majored in the business curriculum. Clyde was captain of his high school basketball team and, as a member of the Evangelical United Bretheren Church, coached their church league basketball team.

Clyde joined the Navy during WWII and served as a torpedo man 1st class in the Pacific theater.

To know Clyde was to know that his business was his life and passion. After returning from the war he returned to his previous employment working for Welliver Auto Parts an automotive part distributor in Bloomsburg. Then, in 1957, he started his own business Shoemaker Auto Supply Co. in a small building on Scott Avenue in Bloomsburg. As do many small businesses, it started on a prayer and a shoestring and was a family affair. His wife Catherine would tend the store during the day while Clyde was out on the road selling. She would be relieved after high school by their oldest son Bruce after which she would go to work in the office of local optometrist for several hours. Through persistence and hard work the business grew and prospered. In the late 50’s the business moved to the Old Berwick Road location where the physical facility expanded and grew over time to its final size of over 18000 square feet. In addition to the Bloomsburg facility the business expanded to three additional stores located in Berwick, Sunbury and Shamokin. At times the business employed as many as 25 individuals. His oldest son Bruce purchased the business in 1985 and Clyde retired.

In addition to working around his farm, Clyde enjoyed several recreational activities during his life. He was an avid snowmobiler and an early participant in the sport, buying his first machine in 1969. His favorite hobby was boating which he began enjoying in the late 60’s after buying a cottage at Harveys Lake. As time passed, even after selling the cottage, his enthusiasm for the activity flourished and the size of the boats increased proportionately. Clyde extensively cruised the Erie Canal system in New York State, the Saint Lawrence River, and both the Redeau and Trent-Severn Canal systems in Canada. He cruised the Chesapeake Bay and made many trips up and down the entire East Coast Intracoastal Waterway.  Clyde, even when in his late eighties, on several occasions single-handedly brought his boat from the Chesapeake Bay to Stuart Florida where he wintered for many years.

Clyde was a member of Washington Lodge 265 F&AM, The Caldwell Consistory and the Bloomsburg Elks Lodge 436.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 19 at 2:30 p.m. at the Wesley Pine United Methodist Church: Pine Center Road, Millville, with Cathy Burkhart, certified lay minister officiating. Internment in Pine Center Cemetery with military honors by the combined American Legion and VFW honor guard. Masonic memorial services will be held at 2:15 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pine Center Church, Millville PA c/o Sue Ellen Hons, 53 Ironwood Rd., Millville, PA 17846.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market Street, Bloomsburg.