Donald L. (Jr.) Shoaf

Donald Lee Shoaf Jr., age 94, of Newville, PA, passed away peacefully, on May 23, 2025, at Green Ridge Village. “Lee” was born July 10, 1930, in his parents’ home, at Strum Station in Fayette County, PA, a son of Eunice Zoe Miller Shoaf and Donald Lee Shoaf Sr. 

As a youth he worked weekends and summers on his grandfather’s dairy farm. As the farms were self-sustaining, Lee told stories of surviving The Great Depression “without going hungry” and watching his family feed homeless itinerants. He was Valedictorian of the George's Township High School Class of 1948. Lee went to work for H.C Frick Coke Company, learning mine surveying “on the job” and studying mining engineering at West Virginia University. He was employed for 19 years as draftsman and mining engineer at the U.S. Steel Corporation. 

To better support his growing family, Lee also worked evenings and weekends selling door-to-door World Book Encyclopedia or Wear-Ever Cookware. He also worked at the Fayette Engineering Company drawing up subdivision plans for recreational communities. He left U.S. Steel to work full-time as a Realtor for the Paul Sprowls Realty in Uniontown, PA. After four years, Lee joined Richard Krieger and Richard Hughes in taking over the Paul Sprowles Agency, becoming President of one of Uniontown’s best-known real estate, insurance agencies and housing developers. Lee was a prominent figure in the business community of Fayette County. He served in many leadership roles in the Uniontown Chamber of Commerce, was Secretary and President of the Fayette Board of Realtors, and an instructor in the Business School of Penn State University, Fayette Campus. He was Secretary and then Chairman of the South Union Township Sewerage Authority that built the first sewerage system in that township. He served as Director on the Board of Uniontown Savings and Loan. For 71 years, Lee was a member of Valley Lodge No. 459 of Masontown, PA., and a 320 Master Mason of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction Scottish Rite, Valley of Uniontown. 

Lee married three times. First, Ethel M. Johnson with whom he had children Donnie, Debbie, Marcia, & Margie; second, Theodora A. DeFrank, with whom he had a son, Ashley; finally, Debonny L. Barsky. Debonny’s career as a molecular biologist took them to California for eight years where Lee continued to work in real estate and later managed The Aggie Inn, a B&B in Davis, CA. When Debonny was recruited to the Idaho National Laboratory, in Idaho Falls, ID, Lee worked as the business manager for Research and Technology Development at the Laboratory. Lee was retired by the time they moved “back east” to the Pittsburgh area, then to Frederick, MD, and finally to Green Ridge Village in Newville, PA. 

Lee loved being outdoors. He retained a lifelong interest in scouting and camping. Active in Boy Scouts of America, he served as Scout Master of the PA Fairchance Troop, and as Assistant District Commissioner for the “Old Trails” District for many years. He had a passion for hunting, fishing, canoeing, biking, hiking, cross country skiing, golfing, gardening, and singing. He was never happier than when he was sharing these interests with his wife, children, and grandchildren. When unable to be outdoors, he enjoyed watching the financial channel or playing poker. He organized a Finance Interest Group at Green Ridge Village and invited speakers to enlighten the members regarding current trends in the financial markets. Family and Friends know Lee as being intelligent, multi-talented, kind, loving, gallant, generous, and witty. 

He is survived by his wife, Debonny Lee Barsky Shoaf; daughters Deborah J. Morris (Ken), Marcia G. Fulton (Jim), Margaret L. Nelligan; son, Ashley T. Shoaf (Laura); 32 grandchildren who span three generations; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his oldest son Donald L. Shoaf III, his two sisters, Elizabeth J. Whoolrey and Shirley Jean Barkley, and his brother, Jesse D. Shoaf.

Lee and Debonny are especially grateful for the outstanding care Lee was given by Melanie Kohr of Home Instead, the staff of Swaim Health Center at Green Ridge Village, and Residential Hospice of Mechanicsburg. 

Family and friends will be received in the DONALD R. CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME, HOPWOOD, PA On Saturday October 25 from 2-4pm with Masontown F&AM Lodge 459 holding a short service at 2pm.

Memorial contributions may be made in Lee’s name to Advocates for the Improvement of Memory Care (AIM) at Green Ridge Village, 210 Big Spring Rd, Newville, PA 17241 or Residential Hospice, 100 Sterling Parkway, Suite 110, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050. 

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