It is with great sadness the First Defenders Civil War Round Table announces the passing of charter member Robert “Bob” Shuman following an illness spanning nearly six months.
Bob was born in Chambersburg, the son of the late Daniel Leslie and Alice (Ott) Shuman. Many of us have heard Bob’s presentation of the “Burning of Chambersburg” by Confederate cavalry in 1864, and it is bittersweet that he had been scheduled to give this presentation during our December program (and, for the first time, Bob would have been using Powerpoint rather than his trusty overhead projector and transparencies!).
Bob graduated from Chambersburg High School, Shippensburg State Teachers College and the Pennsylvania State University where he became dean of student affairs at Penn State – Berks Campus in 1966, retiring in 1985.
A U.S. Army veteran, Bob would serve his community on the Board of Directors of Berks County Senior Citizens Council (now Encore) and as secretary and chairman of the Womelsdorf Borough Planning Commission. He enjoyed gardening, tennis and Civil War studies. He was a charter member of the First Defenders Civil War Roundtable. He was a member of Bern Evangelical Lutheran Church, Leesport.
Surviving are Bob’s wife, Pauline (Phillips) Shuman; his son, Daniel Leigh Shuman; his daughter, Celia Diane Shuman; his granddaughters: Heather, Jessica, Ashley, and Morgan; and great-grandchildren Jacob, Cecelia, and Lindsay Ann.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at 11:00 AM in Bern Evangelical Lutheran Church, 820 W. Leesport Rd., Leesport, PA 19533. The Rev. Phyllis Wolkenhauer will officiate. A viewing will be conducted from 10-11 AM at the church before the services. Interment will be made in the Womelsdorf Union Cemetery, on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 1:30 PM.
Bob’s family has asked that you remember him by contributing to Bern Evangelical Lutheran Church (address above); Shippensburg University Scholarship Fund, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257-9987; or Penn State – Berks Campus Scholarship Fund, Tulpehocken Road, P. O. Box 7009, Wyomissing, PA 19610-6009.
Rest in Peace, Bob, with the First Defenders who have gone before and with whom you will encamp for all eternity!
