William W. Shoemaker (Bill), age 96, slipped quietly away to Heaven on Monday, May 2, just 4 months after his wife of 65 years Jeanne (nee Dossman).  Bill is survived by his son Steven, daughter Sandra East, and four grandsons: Nicholas, Patrick, and Jack Shoemaker, and Charles East.

Those who knew Bill Shoemaker would say "He was a good man."  They would use words like kind, generous, compassionate, honest, and devout.

The words "learned", "hero", or "great" would not quickly come to mind.

Bill was the product of a simpler time.  His son and daughter, or more so his grandsons, frequently fixed his spreadsheets, his computer, and even his "idiot-proof" GPS device.  Computers, technology, and user interfaces were not his forte.

But he could show you how to cut a new thread in a stripped bolt hole, glaze a windowpane, sweat a copper pipe, wire an outlet, build a stud wall, and lay a course of bricks.  He could do anything on any car built before 1968.  He could convert BTUs to cubic feet of natural gas to pipe diameter, or CFM to blower horsepower to amps at 220 volts.  He could tell you why hot water pipes foul faster than cold and why pin leaks heal themselves.  And not just mechanical things, as the family Bible was inscribed "awarded for excellence in the study of Spanish" from his high school.

He was, in fact, a learned man.

All kids think their fathers are the best, and Steve and Sandie are no exception.  He worked hard to provide for his family and put both of them through college.  He spent many nights following Steve around Boy Scout campouts and adventures, sleeping in the back of the old station wagon, complete with home-made mosquito netting taped over the windows.

He made sure Sandie was the rare fourteen-year-old girl with the life skills to change a tire, change the oil, paint a room, and practice golf etiquette.

But Dad helped more than his children.  For some thirty years he aided less fortunate families through Little Flower Church's St. Vincent DePaul Society.  Not just giving out food but going on emergency runs with medicine or to work out housing for a displaced family.  Hundreds of people are better off because of Bill Shoemaker.

Bill served in the military during the Korean War.  He stayed in the States and worked outside Washington, D.C. testing anti-tank ordinances.  There are veterans alive today because their anti-tank weaponry worked.

Bill worked at GE for over 30 years.  Much of his career was spent making jet engines safer.  He was part of the storied team that shot grocery chickens into jet engines to see what happens when an engine ingests a bird.  When the project started, many engines would explode.  When the project finished, the engines would fail but the plane would still fly, as Sully Sullenberger can attest.  They also shot nuts, bolts, and other hardware to study military aircraft on aircraft carriers.  There are people alive today because of the safety of GE and other jet engines.

Bill was, in fact, a hero.

The Greatest Generation, by Tom Brokaw is about those who grew up during the Great Depression, who went off to fight World War II, whose productivity made a decisive contribution to winning the war, and who came home from the war to create unprecedented wealth and prosperity.  Bill was that generation and by working hard to create his dream, he helped create America's as well.

Bill was, in fact, great.

Turns out the words "learned", "hero", and "great" are fitting for Bill Shoemaker.  But most importantly, "He was a good man."

Funeral services were held privately.  In remembrance of Bill's life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Society of St. Vincent de Paul, District Council of Cincinnati, 1125 Bank Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45214, (513) 853-1011.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
1125 Bank St, Cincinnati OH 45214
Tel: 1-513-562-8841
Web: https://www.svdpcincinnati.org/