Frank J. Shoaf Jr.
Frank J. Shoaf Jr., age 89, Carmichaels, Pa., died Saturday, June 22, 2013 in his home.
Mr. Shoaf was born on August 9, 1923 in Masontown, Pa., son of Frank J. Shoaf Sr. and Margaret Morgan Shoaf.
On July 5, 1948, Frank married Lucy ‘Sue’ Marucci Shoaf, who survives.
Also surviving are five children: Kathleen Dyer (Jeffrey) of Morgantown, West Virginia, Frank J. Shoaf III (Connie) of Carmichaels, Rebecca Brockey (James) of Flowerland, Texas, Nancy Coll (Thomas) of Stafford, Virginia and Thomas J. Shoaf (Denise) of Carmichaels; 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; and a sister, Dolores Wolfe of Uniontown, Pa.
Three sisters and one brother are deceased: Anna Mary Sparks, Camilla Patton, Aileen Patton, Theodore Shoaf.
Mr. Shoaf graduated from All Saints High School in Masontown and attended Penn State University for mining.
His mining career began at United States Steel in 1941.
From 1943 to 1946, he served his country in the United States Army Air Corps as a Ball Turret Gunner on B-24 Bomber. He flew 35 missions over Germany with the 716th Squadron, 449th Bomb Group. He received the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Four Bronze Stars.
He resumed working in the mines and became a Foreman at Robena Mine.
From 1972 until his retirement in 1988, Mr. Shoaf was Pennsylvania State Mine Inspector.
Mr. Shoaf was active in organizations that supported coal mine safety. He belonged to National Mine Rescue Association, the Mine Rescue Veteran’s Association as Secretary-Treasurer, the Holmes Safety Association, and Pittsburgh Coal Mining Institute of America.
Mr. Shoaf was a devout Catholic. He was a member of Saint Hugh Roman Catholic Church, Carmichaels, the Men’s Choir of Saint Hugh, the Senior Activity Group, The Holy Name Society and the Church Council.
He was also a member of The Knights of Columbus.
Friends will be received in the LESAKO FUNERAL HOME INC., 204 Dowlin Avenue, Carmichaels, PA 15320 (724.966.5100), Paul M. Lesako, Funeral Director //Supervisor//Owner, on Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A Prayer Service will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel.
A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. in Saint Hugh Church.
Full Military Rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 400 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3491 of Carmichaels at Greene County Memorial Park.
Donations may be made to All Saints School 100 South Washington Street, or to the Amedysis Hospice, 2181 McClellandtown Road, both Masontown, PA 15461.
Online obituary: www.lesako – funeralhomeinc.com