Joseph A. Shoff Sr.

Joseph Shoff Obituary

MOUNTVILLE Joseph A. Shoff, Sr., 69, died Monday, March 10, 2008, at Lancaster General Hospital, surrounded by his loving family, after a brief illness. He was the husband of Juanita J. Gwinn Shoff with whom he would have celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary on July 21, 2008. He was born in Millersville, son of the late Joseph C. and Ruth E. Bleacher Shoff. He was a machinist for Harley-Davidson for 33 years before retiring in 2000. A member of Silver Spring Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday School Teacher and was soon to be a Deacon, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and enjoyed woodworking, motorcycles, and going to the beach at Ocean City, Md. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are three sons, Joseph A., Jr., married to Kathy J. Shoff of Washington Boro, Leonard L. Shoff of Mountville and Jeffrey D., Sr., married to Barbara J. Shoff of Lancaster; three daughters, Theresa A. married to J. Tom Henry of Strasburg, Tina J., married to Larry W. Barrett of Lancaster, and Kathy Jo, married to Jeffrey L. Cheney of Mount Joy; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; two brothers, Chester D., married to Harriet Shoff, and John D., married to Monique Shoff, all of Marietta; three sisters, Emma M., married to Robert Earhart of East Petersburg, Esther E., married to Samuel Flowers of Columbia, and Lillie M. Keesey of Saltsville, Va. He was preceded in death by one brother, William Shoff. Funeral service will be held at Silver Spring Baptist Church, 4001 Marietta Ave., Columbia, on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Pastor James L. King officiating. Interment will be in Mountville Cemetery. Friends may call at the Kraft-Workman Funeral Homes, Inc., 114 W. Main St., Mountville, on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. and also on Saturday at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Silver Spring Baptist Church Benevolent Fund.

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Published by York Daily Record on Mar. 12, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Shoff

2 Entries

Janice Fortson

April 6, 2008

What the heart has once owned, it shall never lose. Thinking of you and Darrin at this difficult time.

Dale Zeller[Shoff]

March 12, 2008

To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."

It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."

God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.

Ruth Ann Mahaffey (author)
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