John Richard Shoaf passed away on July 1, 2022, at WVU Medicine Hospice. Although John was suffering from Stage 4 Kidney Disease, he succumbed to complications from a stroke suffered on June 23.
John was born on Oct. 30, 1942, in the upper bedroom of his grandparents’ home on Jones Avenue in Morgantown to Doris Runner Shoaf and James “Jimmy” Riley Shoaf II.
Following his father’s release from a German POW camp in 1945, Doris and Jimmy, along with their two sons, James “Skip” and John, moved to Collingswood, N.J. John graduated from Collingswood High School in 1960, but he spent his summers in both Morgantown, and on the Runner farm on Tom Cat Hollow near Point Marion, Pa. John graduated from WVU with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in secondary education (science and social studies). John continued his education by taking college and technical courses and received several additional certifications.
After college graduation, John stayed in Morgantown. His first teaching job was at Tunnelton School. For his second year and several more years, he was at Bruceton Mills School. He then transferred to Morgantown Junior High and later to the new South Middle School when it opened. At each school he taught eighth-grade science. John loved teaching eighth-grade, which he called “the quiet years.” He loved his students, and he loved science. He respected almost all of the administrators. He retired with 39 years of teaching experience.
During his summers in Morgantown and his college years, he enjoyed hanging out with the Velveteens Band and working at Jordan’s Gulf. Later interests were cars and more cars. He liked photography, mostly taking photos of cars. John loved taking his Sunbeam Tigers to car shows, attending swap meets and telling anyone who asks anything they wanted to know about Sunbeam cars. He was proud of working with Insane Cycles to rebuild a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger in Playboy Pink as a tribute to the pink Sunbeam Tiger given to the 1965 Playmate of the Year. In addition, he enjoyed listening and dancing to reggae music (especially Small Axe), locating and eating at metal diners (he was a diner-holic), collecting WV-made glass and chinaware, mowing his lawn and washing his cars. He and Melodie liked to ride around both far and wide, visiting different places and attending different activities. He always took Melodie places she wanted to go and/or see. They may not be places he would choose, but he went and made certain she had a great time. During and post-pandemic, the two of them were happy to just sit and watch TV, listen to golden oldies and spoil the cats. They enjoyed doing all kinds of things together and being in each other’s company was enough to make them happy. They both had a great sense of humor, but sometimes only they got the joke.
John was a co-founder and member of Dream Machines Car Club. He was a member of Tigers East/Alpines East, California Association of Tiger Owners, American Diner Museum, Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor and WV Science Teacher Association.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Doris (Runner) and James Shoaf II; his brother, James III “Skip”; and his grandparents, Sylvia and Phillip Runner. He is survived by his life partner, (girlfriend, significant other and soulmate) Melodie DeWitt, of 42 years. Also surviving are his sister-in-law, Claire Shoaf, of Santa Clara, Calif.; several cousins; and his precious feline, Whitey.
If so inclined, memorial contributions may be made to Shack Neighborhood House, P.O. Box 600, Pursglove, WV 26546 for its Summer Camp Program so Mon County kids have a safe place to have fun and learn. In the memo line, write: Summer Camp in memory of John Shoaf.
Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, from 1-3 p.m. on Thursday, July 7. A private graveside service will be held at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens at a later date.
Condolences:
www.hastingsfuneralhome.com
