Pamela Shumaker Ryan

Pamela Shumaker Ryan, aged 75, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away on Monday, October 13, 2025. Born October 3, 1950 in Zanesville, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Mary Alice (Bell) Shumaker.

Pam grew up in New Lexington, Ohio and was a graduate of New Lexington High School. She earned a BS from Ohio University in speech pathology and her master’s degree from the University of Dayton in school counseling. Pam dedicated her career to helping children. She worked in Sugar Grove, Ohio as a speech pathologist for the Berne Union Local School District, and then as a school counselor for elementary and middle school children in the Logan-Hocking School District in Logan, Ohio. Even in retirement, she worked as a speech therapy assistant for pre-K and special needs children. Twice widowed, she was a dedicated mother of two with her first husband, John. In her retirement years, she met her 2nd husband, Dan, and gained an extended family of stepchildren she also adored. Pam loved music and the arts. She had an impeccable eye for decorating and enjoyed hosting family and friends.

Pam is survived by her son, Joshua Ryan; daughter, Jessica (Kevin) Augsburger; stepson, Daniel (Megan) Rako; stepdaughter, Jennifer (David) Fry; grandchildren, Madelyn, Sylvia, Morgan, Claire, Nola, Aiden, Jackson, and Charlie; great-grandchild, Madison; sister, Sharon (Peter) Finck; and brother, Paul John Shumaker.

She is preceded in death by her late husband, Daniel Phillip Rako; late husband, John Thomas Ryan; stepdaughter, Laura Rako; grandchild, Daniel Rako II; and brother-in-law Peter (Sharon) Finck.

A celebration of life will be arranged at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Pam’s name to an organization for which she did volunteer work: Wigs Off for Cancer https://cbo.io/app/public/bidapp/wigsoff/donate. This organization provides wigs and wig services at no charge for those experiencing hair loss related to cancer treatment.