Pop Pop Shoemaker

Early Monday morning, 1/19/09 we lost a very very special man in our lives and Coles. Coles Great Grandfather, Phil's Grandfather, passed away. It was very sudden to all of us, and totally not expected. He died of a massive heart attack. They were able to revive him and the family was able to come and say goodbye to him.

We are just so thankful that we had a wonderful visit with Mom-Mom and Pop Pop on Thursday and he got to meet Cole. What a blessing that was, and a memory we will ALWAYS cherish. We had a wonderful time with him.

Pop Pop gives all his grand children and great-grandchildren nicknames. As he was leaving on Thursday I asked Pop Pop what was coles nickname! He said Nat King Cole! I am so glad I asked pop-pop that before he left that night. We didn't get a picture of Pop-Pop and Cole, so this really is upsetting Phil.

We will really really miss him, and this will be a week that we will struggle to get through. But, I am so thankful that the Shoemakers are wonderful people, and a strong family and we will all get through this.

Please pray for Phil's grandmother mom-mom. This is going to a terrible time for her. Pop-Pop was only 66/67 yrs old.

Frederick W. "Rick" Shoemaker Sr., 66, husband of Betty Ann (Simon) Shoemaker of Phoenixville, died unexpectedly early Monday morning, Jan. 19, 2009, in Phoenixville Hospital.Born in Phoenixville, he was the son of the late Frederick J. and the late Anna Mae (Constantine) Shoemaker.He worked at the former Phoenix Steel Corporation, and for over 20 years he worked for the Borough of Phoenixville at the Water Plant.For many years Rick was a coach for the Phoenixville Youth Babe Ruth League and for the Babe Ruth League. He was a pitcher in the Phoenixville Fastball Leagues.

An avid golfer, he belonged to Spring Hollow and Meadowbrook Golf Clubs.He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church and Friendship Fire Company in Phoenixville.

Surviving in addition to his wife of nearly 50 years are son Rick Shoemaker and wife Cheryl of Phoenixville; daughter Debbie Shollenberger and husband Jody of Schwenksville; son Gary A. Shoemaker and wife Stephanie of Gilbertsville; son Tom Shoemaker and wife Jennifer of East Coventry; daughter Terri Miller and husband Chris of Howell, N.J.; son Dave Shoemaker and wife Courtney of Center Valley; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother Stephen Shoemaker of Limerick; and sister Tina Shoemaker of Phoenixville.

Relatives and Friends are invited to attend his funeral from the Devlin-Rosmos-Kepp Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Main Street at Fourth Avenue, Phoenixville, on Friday, Jan. 23, 2009. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home at 9:45 a.m. followed by his funeral Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, St. Mary's and Dayton Streets, Phoenixville, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Gary J. Kramer officiating.Burial will be private.Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to Phoenixville Hospital Cancer Center, 824 S. Main Street, Suite 101, Phoenixville, PA 19460.