William "Willie" P. Shoemaker - Fair Funeral Home

William "Willie" P. Shoemaker August 17, 1938 - November 23, 2022

Born: Wednesday Aug 17, 1938

Died: Wednesday Nov 23, 2022

Obituary

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William “Willie” Preston Shoemaker, 84, passed away on Wednesday, November 23rd at his home in Eden, NC.

A memorial service will be held at 4pm Sunday, November 27th at Fair Funeral Home Chapel. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 3-4pm, at Fair Funeral Home Chapel.

Willie was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and considered his family as life’s greatest blessing. He married his high school sweetheart, Martha “Marty” Coggins Shoemaker in 1958.

Born August 17, 1938, in Thomasville, NC, he was the son of the late O.V. and Mabel Carter Shoemaker. He began his career with Mann Drug Store in Thomasville at age 16 as a “soda jerk”. He graduated from Thomasville High School in 1956 and entered the University of NC-Chapel Hill in 1956 in the Pharmacy School and graduated in 1960. While at UNC-CH, he was a member of the honor society Rho Chi and the Phi Delta Chi Pharmacy Professional Fraternity. He began his career as a Registered Pharmacist with Mann Drug Company in High Point, NC. In 1964 he moved to Eden to manage the new Mann Drug in Meadow Greens Shopping Center. Following a fire that destroyed this business in 1981, Willie and his long-time partner, Wendell Evans, opened their own business, Eden Drug Inc. on Stadium Drive in 1982 and continued his work there until retirement in 2006. He was known for giving out good advice as well as dispensing medicine with efficiency and good humor.

Willie’s many civic accomplishments included serving on the board of the Salvation Army, Chamber of Commerce, and Leaksville Jaycees. He was a member of Leaksville United Methodist Church where he served on the Administrative Board and Usher committee. He was also a member of the Piedmont Rod and Gun Club and an avid fisherman with this group for many years. Willie’s commitment to his family and friends was matched only by his passion for Tar Heel basketball. He watched the Tar Heels win four national championships and never tired of the thrill each game brought. Forever the positive attitude with his “we’ve still got time” … or “just wait till next year!” He was also known and loved for his sense of humor. His four grandsons were the joy of his life and they enjoyed many games at Smith Center with him.

Survivors are his wife of 64 years, Marty, his high school sweetheart; daughters, Kathryn Rose Shoemaker of Max Patch, NC, and Kim S. LaPrad and husband Jack of Powder Springs, GA. Also surviving are four grandsons who affectionately called him “Nana”, Corey N. Winstead, Wil LaPrad, Carter LaPrad, and Gunter LaPrad, and his four great-granddaughters, Mallory LaPrad, Virginia LaPrad, Whitney LaPrad, and Lillian Winstead.

He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Pat Shoemaker and June Ritchie; nieces and nephews, Greg Shoemaker, Tom Witty, Jim Witty, Sam Witty, Tim Ritchie, Lori Ritchie; goddaughter, Kristen Christman.
Fair Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Leaksville United Methodist Church Endowment Fund or the charity of choice.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com

View Condolences/Stories

Oh no, so sorry to hear about Willie . He was a friends and our community back then. He was very active at the church, and his family.
Sending my condolences to all of you and may the lord be with you all.
Beverly Thomas
Beverly Thomas

We know Willie is rejoicing in Heaven as his precious family & friends are sad to see to go. He was such a sweet and kind man. Willie gave me my first job at 14yrs old as well as many others. I never heard a harsh word from him during the whole time I worked for him. He always had a smile and kind words for everyone. Praying for you all 🙏❤
Phyllis & David Hall

Kim and Jack--Please accept our condolences on the passing of your dear father. May the Lord fill your hearts with His comfort and peace during this difficult time.
With much love,
Melinda and Richard Overby
Melinda Overby

I'm so very sorry to hear of Willie's passing. I admired and respected him greatly.He was a good customer at my garage and we became good friends. Any time he came to the shop , his fishing tales and sense of humor was always a highpoint of my day. He will surely be missed. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Johnny Jones Jones Auto Service

Dear Marty, Kathy, Kim and family;

Dawn & I were grieved to hear of Willy's passing. We both have fond memories of: When you would come to Mable & Red's, when we were small. There Couldn't be a warmer more congenial, inspiring person, than Willy. Every remembrance of him is a pleasant memory.

We will truly be in prayer that God comfort your hearts, with His touch as you deal with the grief and loss. Willy has truly graduated from this realm, into his heavenly home. He was one of the best and truest in this life. And so we know He is in The special care of The Heavenly Father now. - - - We have special love in our hearts for you all and care very much. Tim and Dawn Carter

Tim and Dawn Carter

I am in shock, wasnt ready for this...My heart is broken...He was one off the greatest men I ever met..He and Marty were like family and they made you feel like famiily..I worked for Willie at Eden Drug for many years or at least till he retired..I know I thought of him as a second Dad...I think I knew every fishing story he went on...Even figured out the story about(REDEYE) GREATEST STORY EVER..I will never forget this man, he would do anything for anybody..He made the time at Eden Drug, even visited him and Marty at their home.. You were always welcome there..He and his family willl always hold a special place in my heart..I watched his grandkids grow into wonderful young men..And forsure they were the light of his life..Im so very sorry for your loss, Ii will never ever forget any of you..You all are like family to me..Sorry Im not going to be there for the service but all my love and my heart will be with you all..Marty I love you so very much and I will never forget Willie..Please stay in contact, I will call you when things calm down..Willie we will meet again and you can still tell me of all your fishing trips I will always remember you and your all the ones got away..Sending prayers to all and God Bless you all..
Karen McDaniel

Marty I just wanted you and the family to know how SPECIAL Willie was, I worked with a lot of Pharmacist in my 18 years of work. But none of them ever touched my HEART ❤️ and made me laugh like him. I would have worked every night if Willie was working, it was something about him. He gave off this glow when he was talking to people, and just the way he treated people. When Willie and Wendell retired, I gave it a lot of thought to come out and go back to Carolina Apothecary. But I knew how mom would be treated without Willie there. I LOVED THAT MAN LIKE HE WAS MY PAPA, and that's how I treated him. Me and momma came by there while we still lived at home. But when I would ask if we could come by and visit and never get an answer. I figured he wouldn't now us, we were going through the same thing with my Great-Uncle, he just passed in February. My HEART ❤️ and PRAYERS 🙏 GO OUT TO MARTY, AND both Daughters and husband and Grandsons and GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN and everyone else that was in his life. 🙏❤️ MY GOD BLESS YOU THROUGH THIS TIME OF LOSS. I KNOW I HAVEN'T STOPPED CRYING YET 😢 ❤️🙏
Evie T Holt

Marty, please accept our deepest condolences upon the passing of Willie. How he loved you and his family! And he loved Eden! Truly, he was a wonderful man who gave so much to his community. May he now rest in perpetual peace. . . . . . . Martha and Family
The Groseclose Family

Dear Marty, Kathy, Kim and family,
I am so sorry about Willy. He was always so kind and friendly. Our families have been friends since the Mann Drug days. I wish for all of you comfort and peace in the fays to come.
Sincerely,
Nancy Sherrill Wrangham.
Nancy Wrangham

Condolences for family; a dear, loving man, that helped so many in rockingham county. Will be greatly missed.
Mary Jane Lahman

Marty, Kathy, Kim and all the family, we are so very sorry about Willie. I remember all the great times I stayed with the girls as the two of you went to Carolina basketball games!!! I truly felt like a member of the family as I even had my own room. Professionally he was a great pharmacist. He always had time to talk to his patrons about the medication. He truly cared about all the patrons and wanted them healthy. He loved to fish and time with his family. Rest In Peace our dear Willie. Sure he's meeting all the UNC family that have gone on before him and sure Dean Smith is one of them. Dear Willie, you will be truly missed by all that were fortunate to know you. Such a dear man. Deepest sympathy to all the family that you loved dearly. You will truly be missed.
Susan & Louis Childrey

Marty,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! I have asked about all of you a lot. Many great years of wonderful memories!
Much love,
Debra Griggs
Debra Griggs

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your
family 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Claudia Daniel

Marty, I was saddened to hear about Willie. I know he has been sick for quite a while, and you have been a dutiful wife and caregiver. Never have I heard anyone say an unkind remark about Willie-all praise! Next month I will have been at Twin Lakes in Burlington for two years, but I have been checking on him. Sending all my love to you,
Gloria

Gloria Carroll

My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I am so sorry for your loss.
Cheryl Evans

May God give you peace in your hearts. Willie was a kind gentleman.
Rita Hunt

Sending my sincerest condolenses to the Shoemaker family. Willie was a kind and conscientious boss as I worked at Eden Drug during my college breaks. Wishing you peace, comfort, courage, and lots of love at this time of sorrow.
Libby Joyce

Marty, Sorry to hear of your loss. Many fond memories of the Shoemaker family, William, and Thomasville, Thinking of you and your family.
David L. Myers

Marty, You may not remember me, but my maiden name was Rayne Powell. My Dad had the Belk store in Meadow Greens. He thought the world of Marty, as did we all--my Mom, Louise, and my brother Randy. We grew up in that store and made many trips to the drug store. Daddy would want me to do this, as Willie was his friend. I wouldn't have seen this ordinarily, but I was looking up my classmate, George Robertson's mother-in-law's-announcement--Mrs. Martin. So thankful to have seen it--supposed to be this way. Please take good care of yourself, and know that you and the rest of your family are in our thoughts. Willie touched a lot of lives, and we were blessed to have him in ours for a time.
Rayne Brown

Willie was one of the first people I met when I moved to Eden in 1979 after I finished my General Surgery residency. I went to Mann's Drug and introduced myself.
Willue was a kind, compassionate, and generous person.
I sincerely appreciated his support.

Dr. Henry FLEISHMAN
Charlotte,NC
Henry FLEISHMAN

I am so sorry to hear that Willie is no longer with us. He was my first boss when I was 15. He was more than a boss, he was a mentor and friend. He took such good care of me and I will always remember him with love.
Anita Dunn Robertson

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