Francis Rawle Shoemaker, Jr.

June 18, 1921 - April 8, 2016

Frank passed away on April 8, 2016 after being diagnosed with mesophilioma early in 2016. Frank was born in San Francisco on June 18, 1921, the son of Francis Rawle Shoemaker Sr. and Beatrice Splivalo Shoemaker, both of San Francisco. For the past 21 years Frank has made his home in Benicia, Ca. He is survived by cousins and his many friends of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Benicia Yacht Club and members of the National Ski Patrol. Frank was a Boy Scout and earned an Eagle Scout Badge with Bronze Palm in 1938. He graduated from Berkeley High School and was attending UC Berkeley when he was called to service in WWII. He served from 1942-1946 in the US Army in the South Pacific. After his military service, he attended Oregon State College and received a Bachelor of Science with a major in electrical engineering in 1948. He became a professional engineer in 1955. In l966 Frank was appointed a senior electrical engineer for the Department of Public Works at the SF Bay Bridge. He spent the last 20 years of his professional career working with colleagues who became lifelong friends. He retired at 65 and moved to Benicia, Ca. Frank had many interests, including a fascination with Shoemaker family history which dates back to the 1750s in Philadelphia, PA; languages of which he was proficient in several; trains, astronomy and eclipses, music and photography. He was an avid opera fan and sand in the church choir for many years. He traveled the world skiing, riding trains and taking thousands of slides of his adventures. He was a member of the Benicia Yacht Club and served as a director. He was also a member of the E Clampus Vitus, the San Francisco Westerners, the Sierra Club and various veterans’ organizations. A memorial service to honor Frank’s memory will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 120 East J Street, Benicia, Ca. on April 18, 2016 at 3:00PM. Burial with military honors will be April 19, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Ca. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Frank’s name can be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or the charity of your choice. Frank will be missed by his many friends. He as a fried, mentor and companion to us all.