John E. Shamer Sr.

John Edward Shamer Sr., 79, of Oxford, Conn., formerly of Ansonia and Shelton, Conn., died Monday, March 14, 2011, at Bridgeport Hospital. Born Oct. 23, 1931, in Westminster, he was the son of the late William R. and Elizabeth Study Shamer. He was the husband of the late Patricia Knight Shamer. He was an Army veteran, having served in the Korean War and held the rank of corporal. He was the recipient of the Korean Service Medal, two Bronze Stars, the United Nations Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He had been the owner of the former Shamer and Sons Well Drilling Company of Shelton, and had previously been associated with the William Knight Well Drilling Company. He had been a resident of Oxford for four years after moving from Ansonia. He had been a Babe Ruth baseball coach in Shelton for three years. He had attended the First United Methodist Church of Shelton. He enjoyed socializing with family and friends, watching his grandchildren and was an avid Baltimore Orioles fan. Surviving are sons John Shamer Jr. and wife Cara, of Winter Springs, Fla., Dean Shamer and wife Donna, of Naugatuck, Conn., Karl Shamer and wife Marie, of Oxford, and Paul Shamer and wife Katikana, of Allentown, Pa.; a sister Joan Cornell, of Manchester; grandchildren Ted and Karl Gustafson, and Karlie-Patricia, Kyle, Ryan, Brett, Alayna and Jody Shamer; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, William R. Shamer. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Miller-Ward Funeral Home, 260 Bank St., Seymour, Conn. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Heather Sinclair, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Shelton, officiating. Entombment will be in the Garden Mausoleum at Mount St. Peter Cemetery in Derby, Conn., with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the John E. Shamer Memorial Fund, c/o Miller-Ward Funeral Home, funeral director, 260 Bank St., Seymour, CT 06483, for the benefit of the grandchildren's educational fund. Online condolences may be offered at www.millerwardfuneralhome.com . Sign this guest book online at www.carrollcountytimes.com.