Robert (Bob) Jon Shoup, 68, died Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at his home after nothing short of an amazing and miraculous life journey.
He was born June 28, 1958, in Indiana, PA, son of Donald Stover Shoup and Barbara Parker Woodall Shoup. He married Lauri (Thomas) Shoup on May 16, 1981.
Bob moved from Mt Nebo, Ohio Township, in the fall of 1975 and graduated from Indiana Area Senior High School in 1976. He continued his learning through IUP’s Department of Continuing Education, earning an Associate Degree in computer programming. He worked for Duquesne Slag in Pittsburgh, McDonald’s, and as a machinist for Star Manufacturing in Lucernemines from 1978-1985. He later retired from Fisher Scientific in Indiana in 2006, where he also worked as a machinist for 20 years. He was a past member of the Indiana Optimists Club, the Indiana Little League Association, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1582.
On March 12, 1986, Bob became Indiana County’s second heart transplant recipient thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor. He graciously received a second heart transplant on October 3, 2001, and on February 2, 2004, Bob’s brother, Jeff, donated a kidney that helped extend Bob’s life by more than 22 years. UPMC in Pittsburgh performed all of Bob’s transplants. Bob lived more than 40 years as a transplant recipient and was able to live a remarkably ordinary life thanks to his donors and their families. Not a single day passed that he didn’t express gratitude for that incredible sacrifice, and he never missed a day of living that gift to its fullest in honor and celebration of those donors’ lives.
Bob was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder. He liked coaching, playing, and watching sports of all kinds, especially baseball. He faithfully followed the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins and had an encyclopedic knowledge of players and statistics. He loved to banter and color commentate with anyone watching games with him. What he loved most of all was being a “Bob-Bob” to his nine grandchildren: He told them countless grand “dad” jokes, played Uno and other games with them, always enthusiastically ate the recipes they created, watched movies with them, and loved watching them play nearby.
He is survived by his adoring wife of 45 years, Lauri, of Indiana; his only beloved son, Michael S. Shoup (Lindsay Nantz-Shoup) and their children Jayce, Braeden, Piper, Quinn, Blake, Violett, and Livie Ann of Gilbert, AZ. He is also survived by his much-loved daughter, Melissa C. Gheen (Christopher), and their children, Lua and Colina, of Woodland Hills, CA.
He will be missed by his sister Rebecca R. Yearick, Mechanicsburg; his brother Jeffrey D. Shoup (Laura), of Pittsburgh; his sister-in-law, Gretchen Shoup, of Pittsburgh, and their families. He is survived by sisters-in-law Tina Genchur, Michelle (John) Reed, and brothers-in-law Robert W. Thomas Jr. and Joseph Renz and their families, and by his Aunt Carole Stewart and Uncle David (Donna) Woodall of Indiana, in addition to many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He will also be fondly remembered by his former coworkers, his “sister wives”, his gym friends, his beloved church community, and by his special friend, Julia Roberts.
He was preceded in death by his father in April 1983; his mother in November 2005; and his brother, Douglas Mark Shoup, in September 2021.
Bob would like to be remembered as someone who encountered many obstacles on his life journey but who optimistically approached each obstacle as something to climb over, dig under, power through, or go around. His family will remember his humility, tenacity, humor and wit; his deep faith, love, and kindness; and his chronic hopefulness.
A brief visitation will be held at Calvary Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 until the time of service at 11:00, the Reverend Dr. Donald R. Wilson presiding. Private interment will be at Oakland Cemetery.
Bob and his family extend their deepest gratitude to the legion of skilled doctors, nurses, caregivers, family, friends, and the church community who helped him along the way. In his final days, his VNA and Hospice 365 caregivers (LeAnn, Kali, Jeff, and Alicia) provided exactly the help and dignity he needed to complete his life.
Instead of flowers, please consider becoming a living donor or make a donation in Bob’s memory by contributing to the Center for Organ Recovery and Education at this address: CORE, 204 Sigma Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 or to Calvary Presbyterian Church’s Free Food Pantry, 695 School Street, Indiana, PA 15701, or to the Indiana Little League Program: PA Section 4, District 7, P.O Box 793, Indiana LL, Indiana, PA 15701to help with scholarships for young players’ equipment.
To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.donahuetylinski.com.
