Herbert D. Shumway

1919 - 2015

GREENFIELD - Herbert D. Shumway, 95, a life-long resident of Greenfield, died on Wednesday (6-3-15) at Buckley Health Care Center. Born Oct. 24, 1919 in Greenfield, he was the son of Alice (Davenport) and Floyd S. Shumway. He graduated from Greenfield High School in 1937. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1946, and was last stationed in France as a radio operator. Herb was married to the former Grace C. Cumming in Gates Mills, Ohio, on June 26, 1954. The couple celebrated 46 years of marriage before her death on Dec. 6, 2000. He had been a member of the Franklin County Camera Club and the Second Congregational Church of Greenfield.
Herb delivered flowers for Yetter the Florist while in high school, then took jobs delivering groceries and proofreading for a book publishing company before working in the meat department of First National Stores for a number of years. Then, beginning in the mid-1950s, he was employed by First National Bank and its successors until his retirement.
He was an avid photographer and wrote two books on the subject, ""Nature Photography Guide,"" published in 1956, and ""Guide to Your Photo Darkroom,"" published in 1959. Copies of both are still available online. He also directed, filmed and produced a short movie in the late 1940s. His photographic specialty was New England landscapes, and his photos of Franklin County scenes appeared on the covers of numerous magazines including ""American Agriculturalist"" and ""Modern Maturity"" as well as on desktop calendars and tourist brochures from the 1960s to the 1980s. He was best known in Franklin County for his scenic photos that appeared on New England Telephone phone book covers in western Massachusetts in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Herb was also an avid gardener, raising both flowers and vegetables. He initially specialized in gladiolas and later focused his efforts on many varieties of daffodils, which covered most of the hill in front of his Bernardston Road home and were viewed by thousands of passing motorists each spring. For a few years, with his wife he raised and sold African Violets.
Herb is survived by four children: Bill and wife Cheryl Shumway of Potsdam, NY, Dan and wife Lisa Shumway of Leland, NC, Richard and wife Joan Shumway of Avon, CT, and Lucy Schneider of Millis; nine grandchildren: Kristin and husband Pat Gallagher of West Hartford, CT, Jessica Shumway of Potsdam, NY, Laura and husband Ian Veling of Clayton, NC, Ryan Shumway of Manchester, NH, Scott Shumway of Rutland, VT, Jenny Shumway of Stamford, CT., Tom Shumway of Medford, Jake Schneider of Millis, and Zach Schneider of Millis and triplet great-grandchildren: Camden, Linden and Hayden Veling. He also leaves two brothers: Bill Shumway of Brattleboro, VT and Dick and wife Sandy Shumway of South Carolina and a sister, Dot and husband Irv Milewski of South Deerfield.
Funeral services will be on Saturday (6-6-15) at 11 a.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 14 High Street, Greenfield with Rev. Stacey Kullgren officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Green River Cemetery. There will be an hour of visitation preceding the service, beginning at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.