The Shadow
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Jack Durham Showalter, age 86, of 762 Lexington Avenue, Charlottesville, Virginia passed away Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville surrounded by his family.
Jack was born January 6, 1928 in Iron Gate, Virginia to the late Joseph Yount Showalter and Virginia Eliza Durham Showalter, the third of seven children.
He served in the United States Army, 187th Airborne, during the occupation of Japan following World War II.
Upon his return, he worked as a machinist for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad before embarking on a career as a builder/developer.
Named “Builder of the Decade” for his work in the 1960’s, Jack constructed homes, roads, and utilities for hundreds of families, primarily in his developments at Wesgate and Forest Hills, as well as numerous churches, commercial buildings, and a major addition to the C&O Hospital.
His Ready-Mix Concrete business supplied concrete to help build Interstate 64 through Alleghany County.
In 1972, Jack purchased the former Hot Springs branch of the C&O Railroad north of Covington and began collecting and rebuilding antique steam locomotives and passenger cars. By 1975, with the help of master machinist and engineer W. H. Bursey of Clifton Forge and other skilled volunteers, the train began regular excursions that brought thousands of tourists to western Virginia from around the world.
A decade later, Jack relocated to Western Maryland where he was instrumental in establishing a tourist railroad between Cumberland and Frostburg, Maryland.
In 1992, he returned to Virginia to operate a number of mainline excursions between Charlottesville, Staunton, Clifton Forge, and Gordonsville.
All told, nearly a quarter of a million passengers rode his trains, and more than a dozen films and documentaries featured his restored rail equipment.
His oft-stated goal in life was to make the world a better place and he worked tirelessly to build up his community. He mentored scores of young men and women to follow their dreams, training engineers, firemen, steam mechanics, plumbers, carpenters, and entrepreneurs.
His trains were like a “Field of Dreams” for railroad enthusiasts: both young and old came to experience a bygone era.
At age 74, Jack was baptized and confirmed into the Roman Catholic Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two pre-born sons, sister Virginia Jo Showalter, sister in-law Peggy Showalter, brother-in-law Paul Slusher, sister Nancy Folks and her husband George, sister-in-law Shirley Showalter, brother Richard Showalter and his wife Louise, brother Thomas Showalter, and his wife Joyce, and niece Sherry Lee Showalter.
He is survived by his beloved wife Mary Ann Fischer Showalter, daughter Patricia S. Howard and husband Lonnie of Falling Springs, daughter Sally S. Kammauff and husband John of Charlottesville, granddaughter Meghan H. Amerson and husband Ed of Chesterfield, grandchildren Shane, Kathryn, Wade, Joanna, and John Anthony Kammauff of Charlottesville, great-grandchildren Amelia, Henry, and Eliza Amerson of Chesterfield, and two preborn great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by his sister Bobbie S. Slusher of Monroe, North Carolina, brother Guy Showalter and wife Wanda of Troutville, a number of nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends.
A funeral Mass will be held November 28, 2014 at 2 pm at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 401 Alderman Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903.
The family will recite a Rosary at 1 pm prior to the funeral Mass, and will host a small reception following the Mass at approximately 3 pm in the Church hall; all are welcome.
The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Program F, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 30105-1905 or UVA Children’s Hospital, P. O. Box 800773, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908.
