John was born on February 20, 1947 in McPherson, KS to Ed and Eleanor Shumate. John grew up with two sisters and many cousins. He spent many summers working at his uncle’s farm in Kansas. In 1967, he joined the Army and was assigned to Robinson Barracks in West Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1970 and returned to Kansas where he attended Wichita State University. After graduating in 1975, John was hired to work for the Naval Weapons Station in Corona, CA as an Electronics Engineer. He worked at the Naval Weapons Station for 31 years; he also served as a Government Contractor for DynCorp/CSC for 7 years.
John was a genuine and honest man, a devoted husband, a dedicated father, and a loving grandfather. He married his wife, Eileen, in Stuttgart, Germany in 1968. John & Eileen moved to Southern California in 1975 and have lived in their home in Grand Terrace for 40 years. He was a mathematician and engineer, and had varying job titles; Engineer, Branch Manager, and Program Manager. John had a variety of interests in his life including travel, photography, camping, and woodturning. John was a member of the Inland Woodturners Club and a yearly participant for the Utah Woodturning Symposium. He was also an amateur radio operator and proudly displayed his call sign on his truck.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Eileen Shumate, his sons, Christopher Shumate of Redlands, CA and Brian Shumate of Anaheim Hills, CA; three grandchildren, and one sister, Jeri Shumate of Ann Arbor, MI. He is preceded in death by his sister, Janis Brady.