James Shultz, Sr.

     James Thomas Shultz, Sr. "Pappy", 91, died on Monday, October 1, 2018, at his home in Erie.  He was born on November 3, 1926, in Curtin, Centre County, PA, son of the late James Malcolm and Ollie Belle Lucas Shultz.  He was a veteran having served in the Army/Air Force for 9 1/2 years.  He served in Germany during WWII and in Korea during the Korean War.  He married Joan Auman on February 26, 1955 and together they raised 11 children and were foster parents to well over 300 other children.  He was an inspection mechanic working for Penn State Airport and Erie Airways, retiring in 1991.  He loved flying airplanes and building things.  He acquired his pilot's license before his driver's license and every grandchild has a special "Pappy" built, child sized table and chair set.  He made countless other pieces of furniture and built scale model wooden ships from scratch, creating everything by hand, including cannons, ships wheels, deck planking, etc.
     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Emily Greenaway, and two brothers, Harry and Glenn Shultz.
     Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Joan Auman Shultz; 11 children, James Thomas "Beetle" Shultz, Jr. (Mary Lou Becker), Michael Shultz (Lori), Karen DiNunzio (Mike), Barbara Iavarone (Nick), Colleen Seibel (Rick), Robin Shultz (Stanley Snyder), Erin Wickham (Bernie) and Daniel Shultz (Kaylie Moraski), all of Erie, Denise Davidson (Mark) of TX, Amy Bloeser (Paul) of NC, and Emily Meola (Bronson) of Pittsburgh, PA; five brothers, Joe, Dick, Walter, Luther and Dave Shultz; 21 grandchildren, Sebastian Shultz, Danielle Shultz, Michael Shultz, James Thomas "JT" Shultz III, Candace DiNunzio, Sarah Hershelman, Sean Pelinsky, Angela Fogleboch, David Pelinsky, Jacob Iavarone, Nick Seibel, Connor Seibel, Beau Seibel, Tyler Tevis, Thomas Manley, Matthew Bloeser, Otto Bloeser, Gemma Meola, Massimo Meola, Lisa Wickham and Tommy Shultz; 13 great-grandchildren, Cassandra, Michael, Walter, RayVen, Witt, Dylan, Chase, Kaden, Zack, Brielle, Auroa, Kaylee and Molly; two great-great-grandchildren, Joelle and Lykure; and many nieces and nephews.
     Friends may call Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Scott Funeral Home, 2104 Myrtle Street.  A service will be held there Friday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Michael Kuvshinikov, chaplain of VNA Hospice, officiating.  Entombment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery with military honors conducted by Erie Crawford County Burial Detail.  Memorials may be made to VNA of Erie County, 2253 West Grandview Blvd., Erie, PA 16506-4507.