Earl R. Shumaker

Earl R. Shumaker, 89, of Wyomissing, passed away on December 19, 2023 at Reading Hospital, surrounded by his wife, Janis (Jeffords) Shumaker, and his five children.

Born in 1934 in Beaver Falls, PA, to Rollin and Angelina (Monza) Shumaker, Earl was a strong student and an even better athlete. His talents in football garnered the attention of a young assistant football coach at Penn State University, Joe Paterno, who expressed, in a handwritten letter in March 1952, his intentions to offer Earl a full scholarship and make him a Nittany Lion. Earl proudly accepted and upon graduation from Beaver Falls High School, enrolled at Penn State. Earl would play alongside and against such future legendary NFL players as Lenny Moore (of Reading), Rosie Grier and Jim Brown. He graduated from the university in 1956.

Upon graduation, Earl applied for and was accepted into Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia. Earl commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant and proudly served for 3 years, residing in Okinawa, Japan and Parris Island, South Carolina and occasionally coaching some football on the side. Parris Island was where Earl met Jan, a young second-grade school teacher and recent graduate of the University of South Carolina. She was the love of his life for the next 63 years.

Following his service in the Marine Corps, Earl worked for a short time in the insurance industry in Hartford, Connecticut In 1961, he and Jan moved to Reading where Earl embarked on a successful real estate career -- first with Wertz, Hoffman & Parks and then with his own firm, Moore, McLain, Nally & Shumaker. He would help people find and sell their homes for over 50 years.

Earl sent every one of his children to college, each of whom raised loving families of their own, thereby bestowing on him his most cherished title: Grandpa.

Earl was a big personality and was known and loved by many in the Reading community. His love for Penn State Football, golf and Philadelphia sports continued throughout his life. He was a regular attendee at Mass at St. Ignatius Loyola in Sinking Spring, and was particularly fond of quick masses and if there had to be singing, a good recessional hymn.

In addition to his spouse, Earl is survived by his children: Gregory Shumaker, husband of Clare, of McLean, VA; Ann, wife of Christopher Truffer, of Arnold, MD; Michael Shumaker, husband of Jennifer, of Falls Church, VA; Peter Shumaker, husband of Tracie, of Reading; and Stephanie., wife of John Kleiner, of Nashville, TN. He is also survived by sixteen grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and his siblings, Thomas Shumaker, husband of Nancy, of Sinking Spring and Rebecca Larson, of Mars, PA.

Earl was predeceased by his older brother, Rollin Shumaker, Jr. and his beloved Springer Spaniel, Abbie.

A visitation will be held on Friday, January 5, 2024 from 11:00 am to 12:45 pm at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 2600 St Albans Drive, Reading, PA 19609. Words of remembrance by the family will start at 12:45 pm, and a Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1:00 pm. Burial will take place at Gethsemane Cemetery following Mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Earl's memory to THON.org, the largest Penn State student-run charitable organization that provides support for children with cancer and their families.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. To leave an online condolence, visit www.KuhnFuneralHomes.com.