Sherwood E. Shughart

Sherwood E. Shughart, age 89, formerly of Boiling Springs, PA, died Friday, May 3, 2024, at his home in Oxford, PA. Sherwood was born December 18, 1934 at the family farm near Carlisle, PA. He graduated from Boiling Springs High School in 1953 and enrolled at Penn State University. His college was interrupted by a two-year stint in the US Navy aboard an icebreaker where he visited both the North Pole and the South Pole as a damage control technician. In 1959, Sherwood married the love of his life, Anne Parsell and spent the rest of his life with her at his side. Upon graduation from Penn State in 1960 he began an illustrious career as an industrial arts teacher and then Vice Principal. His first job was in Deptford, NJ. He attended Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ for his master’s in education. As an educator, Sherwood always involved his students in large projects that benefited the students, the school, and when possible, the community. At Conrad High School in New Castle County, DE he and his students formed a construction company, called BMW, where the students built their own shop and attached it to the school building. The department of education awarded his efforts by donating a construction van to his program. The highlight of his teaching career was when he created the New Castle County Vo-Tech Community Improvement Company. Their first project was to build a new dormitory for possible student dropouts at Turning Point Ranch. The next project was even bigger, converting the old Wilmington College into dormitory and administrative offices. This and other projects provided the carpentry students from Hodgson Vo-Tech the opportunity to learn skills across the entire spectrum of residential construction, from operating a backhoe to roofing, bricklaying, electrical wiring and plumbing. His last 12 years in education were spent as a Vice Principal at Delcastle and Hodgson Vocational Schools. Sherwood instilled a work ethic in his students with little sayings, such as, “a little putty, and a little paint will make you what you ain’t,” demanding his students cut their lumber accurately. Sherwood worked as hard as his students and he played hard at the end of the workday. When the music started playing, Sherwood started dancing and he was always the first one on the dance floor, especially when they played, “Jeremiah was a Bullfrog.” During retirement Sherwood could be found in his cabinet shop, tending his vegetable garden or collecting and working with his coin sets. He also collected household antiques, antique tools and had an extensive hardwood lumber collection. He always had time to help someone in need, be it friend or a stranger with a construction problem they couldn’t solve. He was a special friend to all! Family was most important to Sherwood and he and his wife, Anne, would take their extended family to Emerald Isle every summer and had family gatherings often. He attended most sporting events, concerts and recitals that his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren participated in…you could always hear his voice and notorious whistle! He helped his son, Scott, coach both soccer and baseball teams. He taught and helped his children and grandchildren with numerous home projects and the building of furniture from his beautiful lumber supply…some lumber being over 60 years old. Sherwood was the youngest in his family and was predeceased by his parents, Ramon and Ellen Shughart; brothers, Lester, Glenn, and Harold; sisters, Dorothea and Arlene; daughter, Pamela Dall; and son-in-law, Darrell Dall. He is survived by Anne E. Shughart, his loving wife of 65 years; daughter, Beth McKee (John) of State College, PA; son, Scott Shughart (Agnes) of Newark, DE; seven grandchildren, Jesse Hall (Kristen), Sarah Hall (Jim), Amelia Dall (Griffin), Daniel Dall (Hayley), Jeff Shughart (Melissa), Jacob Shughart, and James Shughart; and six great-grandchildren, Norah, Layla, Hunter, Heath, Siena and Madison. We want to celebrate Sherwood’s (friends called him “Shu”) life by having family and friends gather informally from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm on Friday, May 17, 2024, in the gym at Paul M. Hodgson Vocational School, 2575 Glasgow Avenue, Newark, DE 19702. Come celebrate Sherwood and enjoy his favorite desserts. A special thank you to all those at Heartland Hospice and Visiting Angels that cared for Dad. We could not have done this without you. In lieu of flowers, please contribute in Sherwood’s memory to Heartland Hospice Care, 5 Christy Drive, Suite 103, Chadds Ford, PA 19317 or online by clicking here.

Sherwood E. Shughart

December 18, 1934 - May 3, 2024