Donald Leon Shoemaker
Donald Leon Shoemaker, 78, died Wednesday, July 8, 2026, surrounded by family in his home in Hendersonville, NC, where he had lived since 1984. A native of Martinsville, VA, he was born July 25, 1947, the eldest child of the late Commie D. and Virginia H. Shoemaker, before relocating to northern Iredell County, NC at age 12.
After graduating from Union Grove High School, he served from 1965 to 1969 in his beloved United States Marine Corps, stationed in Okinawa, Japan and Orlando, FL, and served an additional two years in the Marine Corps Reserve. His military service defined his character throughout his life, and he embodied the motto "Once a Marine, Always a Marine."
He later attended Western Carolina University, obtaining a Master of Arts in Education, and spent his career in administration in the North Carolina Community College System, serving as Dean of Student Services and later Interim President at Blue Ridge Community College from 1983 until he retired in 2001.
Mr. Shoemaker was heavily involved in leadership roles in Henderson County, including president of the Kiwanis Club, president of his Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church, board member at the State Employees' Credit Union, and soccer coach for Atkinson Elementary, among others.
He was an avid firearms enthusiast and marksman, and was a range safety officer at the Asheville Rifle and Pistol Club for many years. He was a devoted NASCAR fan and maintained a basement shrine to Richard Petty; loved to drive cars of all kinds and rode motorcycles off and on for years; and was known to moonlight as an occasional copywriter for radio advertising. He loved the outdoors and spent countless Sunday afternoons in Mills River, riding Honda three-wheelers, target-shooting, and cooking out with family. Such outdoor excursions held special significance for him and his son.
He traveled the country on numerous road trips with his family, diligently cared for his parents through the end of their lives, and later in life traveled around the world with his wife to visit his beloved grandsons, daughter, and son-in-law. Through the years he took great pride in his extended family and friendships, investing tremendous effort in being an exceptional husband, father, and Pawpaw.
Surviving are his wife, Martha Shoemaker; son Brad Shoemaker and his partner Ann Su of San Francisco, CA; daughter Stephanie Shoemaker, son-in-law Ben Williams, and grandsons Oscar and Ethan Williams of Quito, Ecuador; brother Bobby Shoemaker and wife Retta of Hickory, NC; nephew Jason Shoemaker and wife Lauren and their children Ginny and Owen of Mt. Holly, NC; and niece Chloe Davis of Durham, NC. Ann, a registered nurse, deserves special commendation for her care in the brief period prior to his death.
His extended family includes Marilyn and the late Norman Gordon, Mark and Donna Allison, Michael Gordon, Ken and Stephanie Gordon, and Brett and Leah Schreiber, all of Hendersonville; Josh, Mandy, and Pepper Galaxia of Asheville; Jessica and Cody Laxton of Granite Falls; and Austin Allison of Gainesville, FL.
A memorial service was held at 1pm on Sunday, July 19 in the old chapel at Mills River United Methodist Church in Mills River, NC, with a reception following. Donations in Mr. Shoemaker's name may be made to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation or the Gary Sinise Foundation.
