Philip "Flip" Witherell Shoemaker

Born in Princeton, NJ in 1936 to Bill and Kate Shoemaker, he grew up in Lawrence Kansas. Flip went to George School in Newtown PA before attending Kansas University where he played freshman basketball and was an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. After graduating in 1958, he joined the Navy becoming a Naval Flight Officer; flying off aircraft carriers in the North Atlantic during the Cold War. He married Cicely Conger in 1959. They raised 3 children over their 64 year marriage. He attended the University of Illinois school of dentistry and re-joined the US Navy as a Dental Officer.

He completed his oral surgery residency at the University of Alabama. After many duty stations and international travel courtesy of the US Navy, he retired as a captain with 27 years served. Flip began a second career as a private practice oral surgeon in Raleigh, caring for the people of Raleigh in the areas of exodontia, orthognathic surgery, and facial trauma and reconstruction.

He was known for his meticulous surgical skills, collegial nature and kind empathetic patient care. Flip retired from practice in 2002 and was able to enjoy 20+ years of travel, golf and beach time with family and friends.

Flip was predeceased by his parents, Bill and Kate Shoemaker (Newtown PA), in-laws, David and Helen Conger (Stonington CT); brother Ted Shoemaker (Lake George NY); sister-in-law Helen DeCiantis (Stonington, CT); brother-in-law Chris Conger (Raleigh, NC) and son Will Shoemaker (San Diego CA).

Surviving family include his wife of 64 years, Cissie (Raleigh); son David Shoemaker (Denise) of Greensboro, daughter Catie Marsh (George) of Raleigh, daughter-in-spirit Marie Salmon (San Diego CA); grandchildren: Sam Marsh (Raleigh, NC), Hannah Shoemaker (Boston, MA), Brendan Shoemaker (Greensboro, NC), and Nate Marsh (Chapel Hill, NC); sisters-in-law: Alice Conger (Norma) of Stonington, CT and Louise Shoemaker (David) of Oberlin, OH. Flip is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins as well as colleagues and friends across the country.

Please consider donations to the Wounded Warrior Fund, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675, in lieu of flowers.

A Witness to the Resurrection Service will take place on May 16, 2024 at 2:00pm at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27608.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh.