Pastor Paul L. Shumate

Echoing the words of the Apostle Paul from II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” Pastor Paul L. Shumate, of Elizabethtown, traded this earthly life for his heavenly home on Friday, May 4, 2018 following a courageous battle with numerous health issues including pancreatic cancer. Paul, born on July 6, 1944, was the son of C. Dewey and Ola Stamper Shumate. He was married to his wife, Joan Welk Shumate for nearly 50 years.

A passion for serving people led Paul to answer a call to serve God in parish ministry. Ordained an elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, he served churches in Philadelphia, as well as, Lancaster, Chester and Delaware Counties for 40 years. Along with several EPA Conference committees, Paul also served on the Board of Directors of Methodist Home for Children in Philadelphia from 1970 to 1990. Paul graduated from Octorara High School in 1962, Asbury University in 1968 and Palmer (formerly Eastern) Seminary in 1972. He was inducted into the Octorara High School “Scholars Hall of Fame” in 2006.

In addition to his wife, Paul will be lovingly missed by his daughters, Donna Bitler (Brian) of Lampeter, Kierstin Jenkins (Bryan) of Cramerton, NC and five grandchildren, Jesslyn, Julia, Joel and Jeremy Bitler and Zoe Jenkins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Alvin, Durphy, Harold, Robert and James Shumate, a sister, Kathleen Ritz, and a son, Paul Jr.

A celebration of Paul’s life will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 398 North Locust Street, Elizabethtown on Friday, May 11, 2018 at 10:30 AM. Friends may visit with the family at the church on Thursday evening from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM and again at the church on Friday immediately following the service. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. Please omit flowers. Those desiring may send contributions in Paul’s memory to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 398 North Locust Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 or Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125 or America’s Keswick, 601 Route 530, Whiting, NJ 08759.