Craig Leroy Shoemaker

Craig Leroy Shoemaker, 66, of North Ridgeville, OH, passed away suddenly Thursday, November 27, 2025, in Winchester, VA.

Craig was born on October 22, 1959, in Athens, OH, elder son of the late Richard E. and Rieta F. (Sagar) Shoemaker. A 1978 graduate of Athens High School, he attended Ohio University and obtained his B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1982 and 1984, respectively. He received his Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) from Ohio State University in 1988. He was a Senior Scientist at Geon Performance Solutions and its predecessors for 37 years, earning his name on several patents.

Craig married Elizabeth Lea Hurlbut on July 14, 1984, and moved to North Ridgeville, OH in 1998, where they built their log house on six acres and raised daughters Alice and Hannah. He was a member of the Avon Lake Presbyterian Church where he served as usher, Deacon, youth adviser, projectionist, and property committee member. Craig was Head Advisor for the North Ridgeville Ridge Kids 4-H Club for many years.

He lived his life enjoying the things he loved: beekeeping, gardening, farming Christmas trees (continuing a family tradition), and completing small engine and auto repairs. He and Beth had a fun and sometimes challenging time putting up a large Christmas tree every year in their living room – the biggest one at 19 feet tall. They spent numerous days camping in their tiny trailer mainly in Ohio and the Great Lakes area they loved so much.

A true family man, Craig, along with Beth, loved visiting their daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren, often with dogs Rusty and Roy in tow. Hannah, for years at the Santa Fe Opera, and also in New York City, is a theatre properties artisan, and carries forth Craig's famous ability to fix everything. Alice, in sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, continues his love of gardening as a Master Gardener. He had chosen to be called "Grandad" in honor of his own father and grandfather who also went by that. He also treasured the annual Shoemaker extended family vacations in Hilton Head Island, SC, and was an avid Ohio State University football fan, inviting family members to join him via phone watching the games.

He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Elizabeth; their daughters, Alice E. (Charles) Bowles of Middletown, VA, Hannah V. Shoemaker (Jeffrey Englander) of Lambertville, NJ; grandchildren, Arthur and Clara Bowles; and siblings, Desirée (Scott) St. Clair, Sabrina (Jim) Leach, and Derek Shoemaker; cousin, Leslie Gardner; and 11 nieces and nephews.

A memorial/Witness to the Resurrection service will be held in early 2026.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the North Ridgeville Ridge Kids 4-H Club and Avon Lake Presbyterian Church.

Memories may be shared at the Jones Funeral Home (Winchester, VA) website.