Frederick J. Shoemaker

Judge Frederick J. Shoemaker, age 92, went to sleep in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 31, 2017 at his home at the Danbury Senior Living Center. He was preceded in death last November 17, 2015 by his loving and dedicated wife of 65 years, Rosalie Shoemaker. He is survived by his son, Fred C (Heidi) Shoemaker; and daughter, Dee Anne (Terry) Lacey; grandsons, Robert III and Christopher Reischman; and great grandson, Jonathan Reischman. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Christopher and Kathryn Shoemaker; and brothers, Christopher and Donald Shoemaker; and sisters, Dorothy Abbott, Kathryn Green, Loretta Early, Betty Dennison, and Jan Alder. He is survived by sisters, Norma Boos, Patty Toronto, and Marilyn Potts.

A member of the "Greatest Generation," Fred was born on September 22, 1924 in Columbus, Ohio. A World War II army veteran, who served in the Pacific Theater in the Philippines and Okinawa, Fred's life was changed by the educational opportunities presented to him by the G.I. Bill of Rights. A graduate of Otterbein College (1947) and the Ohio State School of Law (1950), he began practicing law in 1951 and was elected to the Columbus City Council in 1958. At the age of 35, he had the honor of being elected to the Franklin County Municipal Court (1959-1964), and then to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas (1965-1981), with much of his career being the only Democrat serving on those two courts. Immediately afterward, he practiced law at Murphy, Young, and Smith, and was later appointed to the Ohio Court of Claims, where he served from 1987 to his retirement at age 80 in 2004.

Fred was always an absolute joy to be around, with his ready smile and high-cackled laugh. He never forgot his very humble origins; and along with his late wife of 65 years, Rosalie, they both created a cocoon of love and support for anyone who had the pleasure of their company. The only thing that Fred ever bragged about was his mother, the late Kathryn Shoemaker, calling her the "best mom in the world." Despite all the honors that he received for his time of service on the bench, his proudest achievement was being inducted into the Ohio Fast-Pitch Hall of Fame in 1991. His passions were fast-pitch softball, golf, and playing bridge. To everyone who knew him, he was the most generous and kind person that had ever lived. Fred truly had the fruits of the spirit, such as, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and long-suffering." (Galatians 5:22-23).

A memorial service will be held for Judge Frederick J. Shoemaker at Newcomer Funeral Home, located at 3047 E. Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus on February 5, 2017. Visitation will be from 11:00am - 1:00pm with the Memorial Service to start at 1:00pm. The service will be conducted by his son, Fred C. Shoemaker, pastor of the Mount Vernon City and Mount Vernon Hill Seventh-day Adventist Churches, who was blessed to have had the greatest and most caring Dad in the whole world. In lieu of flowers, donations in Fred Shoemaker's name may be made to Capital City Hospice.