William Linden Shearer, Sr. of Newville passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026 at Cross Keys Village in New Oxford surrounded by his family following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Bill (aka Sharkey) was born in Shippensburg on May 10, 1933, the 3rd of 8 children, to the late Harvey Donald and Nina Mae (née Gardner) Shearer.
He graduated in 1950 from Newville High School and served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War.
Throughout his life, he shared many of his memories of growing up and adventures he took with his siblings and friends in Shippensburg and Newville.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his beloved wife of 67 years JoAnne (née Weary), his brothers and sisters (Donald, Richard, Ken, Gloria), and his grandson Kyle Shearer.
He is survived by his sisters Doris Warren, Twila Winters, and Linda Bowles, and the remainder of his adoring family: his children William L. Jr (Connie) of Carlisle, Jeffrey Weary (Jeanne) of Bloserville, Tracey Anne Holman (Nick) of York, and Valerie JoAnne S. Overton (Ken) of Chestertown MD; his grandchildren Madison, Matthew (Sarah), and Brian Shearer, Nate Gutshall, Brielle and Jordana Johnson, Nicholas (Liz) and Philip Holman, and Tilghman and Peri Overton; and great-grandchildren Sophia, Emerson, Henry, Delilah, Kayla, and Casen Shearer, Samuel Witmer, and Aria Holman.
Bill loved many things: Folk, Bluegrass, and Preservation Hall Jazz music, a good joke and a strong sense of humor, talking with and catching up on the exploits of his friends and family, a good nap, particularly in front of a warm fire, a long walk around the hills and valleys of Newville, cross country adventures to Alaska and the American Southwest with JoAnne, his brother Dick and sister-in-law Maryann in their RVs, lively card games, and an escape to the local VFW/American Legion.
He was also an accomplished wood worker, attending the Conover Wood School in Ohio. He began his tool and die machinist career at Swartz and Mortenson and worked for many years at AMP Incorporated in Carlisle, making more cherished friends and memories. Truthfully, he was excited to be lucky enough to retire early and begin planning his travel and other post-work adventures.
His funeral service and celebration of life will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday January 20 at Zion Lutheran Church in Newville.
Interment will be at the Newville Cemetery.
A visitation with his family will also be held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.
Bill is finally at rest and with his dearest JoAnne, family, and friends too numerous to name. It is true, that when all is said and done, grief is the price we pay for love. But we will continue to love him dearly and miss him profoundly, remembering his laughter as our favorite sound.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William L. Shearer, please visit the floral store.
