June L. Shomaker

June Lyon Shomaker, 88, of Carlisle, died Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Sarah A. Todd Memorial Home, Carlisle.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she was the daughter of the late Hartzell and Florence (Norwood) Lyon and the wife of 39 years to the late Monte E. Shomaker, who passed away in 1995.

June was born and raised in St. Louis and graduated from Washington University in 1956 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority as well as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

She was a professional cellist with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra for over 30 years as well as a Board member, having been involved with capital campaigns. June was named Board Member Emeritus in 2015.

She was a member of the Orchard Piano Trio from 1998 – 2008, with the trio producing a CD in 2008, was Principal Cellist for 17 years for the Dickinson College Orchestra (Carlisle, PA), and was a member of the Shippensburg Festival Orchestra (Shippensburg, PA) for 20 years.

June also received numerous awards for her cello playing and orchestral involvement, as well as her community involvement and volunteering, including being named United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County Volunteer of the Year in 1994 (shared with Monte Shomaker), the 1997 Capital Campaign Co-Chair, 2002 Larry Gillaugh Memorial Award and the DeTocqueville Humanitarian Award in 2006.

She also received the Molly Pitcher Community Service Award, Citizen of the Year in 2004 and the Leadership Cumberland Distinguished Service Award.

With Cumberland Valley Habitat for Humanity, June was affiliate President in 2001 and 2002 and was a member of the Capital Campaign Steering Committee in 2001, she was also President of Leadership Cumberland in 2003 and 2004 and received the Distinguished Service Award. Leadership Cumberland annually awards the June L. Shomaker Outstanding Board Member Award.

She was on the Blue Ribbon Committee to save Carlisle Theatre in 2002 and in 2005 was on the Steering Committee for its Capital Campaign.

June was Board Member and Trustee for the YWCA, was Co-Chair for the Community Division and Capital Campaign and creator, with Leadership Carlisle, and committee member for The Shomaker Golf Classic, created in the honor of Monte E. Shomaker, which benefited Safe Harbour.

She was Carlisle Area Health and Wellness Foundation Board Member and Trustee from 2007-2013.

Other community involvement included the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Board 2006-2011 and its fundraiser for the Harrisburg Symphony at Summerfair in Carlisle ($25,000 per year) 2008-2023. And as of 2023, the Summerfair concert has been renamed the June Shomaker Summerfair Concert.

She was also involved with Leadership Cumberland and its Regional Committee, Capital Campaign involvement with WITF, Regional Advisory Council with the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center, Shippensburg University, Community Investment Committee, Governance Committee and Planned Giving Committee for Partnership for Better Health Foundation 2008-2014, Board Member and Capital Campaign Co-Chair for Craighead House Restoration 2012-2023.

June co-authored, with Patricia Carlucci, Getting to Goal, a manual for organizing and planning capital campaigns for non-profit organizations and was also a member of Carlisle Fortnightly Club 1969-2023.

She was an active member of Second Presbyterian Church, Carlisle, where she served as an Elder, Trustee and was on the Generations Fund Planned Giving Committee.

June was also the Mother of four remarkable children: Leslie Shomaker Rutan (Mark), of Massachusetts, Julie Shomaker Estes (Larry), of Carlisle, Matthew Shomaker (Jennifer), of Carlisle and John Shomaker (Elizabeth), of Virginia; 15 grandchildren: Patrick Rutan, of New York City, Emily Rutan Cook (Mike), of Virginia, Ben Rutan, of Washington D.C., John Estes (Holly), of Pittsburgh, Laura Spangler (Brad), of Philadelphia, Lydia Estes, of South Carolina, Jeffrey Estes, of Georgia, Michael Shomaker (Jessica), of Virginia, Brian Shomaker (Beth), of Dingman’s Ferry, Josh Schmidt (Stephanie), of Massachusetts, Catie Shomaker, of Virginia, Misha Dennison (Dave), of Biglerville, Grace Sullivan (Cabe), of Colorado, Ava Shomaker, of Colorado and Nate Shomaker, of Florida as well as her three great grandchildren: Alex Cook, Natalie Shomaker and Graham Shomaker.

Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral service 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Second Presbyterian Church, 528 Garland Drive, Carlisle, PA 17013. Colorful attire is very welcome.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in June’s name may be made to: Safe Harbour, 102 W. High Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 or Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, 800 Corporate Circle, Suite 101, Harrisburg, PA 17110.