Grady Frederick Shomette, of Waldorf passed at Civista Medical Center, La Plata. He began his career in the construction and excavation business in 1935 at the age of 14. His considerable skills were later employed in the building of the Pentagon, and in the erection of the Patuxent Naval Air Station. On January 12, 1942, following America's entry into World War II, he married Margurite Simmons, of Washington, D.C., and then sailed for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to begin work of military defense facilities for the U.S. Government.

Following military service during the war he was an instructor in the Navy Seabees, he studied civil engineering and graduated in 1948 from Columbia Technical Institute in Washington, D.C. He later attended Montgomery College in Maryland. As a well known and respected underground utilities contractor he was employed thereafter thought out the Maryland-Virginia-D.C. area for more than 50 years. Owing to his expertise in underground utilities work, he was appointed a superintendent in the laying of underpinnings of the D.C. Metrorail subway system, and later was president of GDS Utilites. He retired in August 2001.

During his long career, he also pursued interests in boating, archaeology, literature, religious studies, and history.

Born the son of the late Print Edwin Shomette and the late Mary Goetz Shomette. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 6 brothers and 4 sisters. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margurite Lois Simmons Shomette; sons, Donald Grady Shomette, of Dunkirk, Md., and Dale Edwin Shomette, of Monrovia, Md.; daughters-in-law, Carol A. Shomette, and Sharon R. Shomette; grandchildren, Kyle Patrick Shomette, Amie Elizabeth Shomette, and Michelle Viney; great-grandchildren, Lanie Marissa Shomette, Julian Patrick Shomette, and Tristan James Shomette. Visitation will be April 13 at the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, La Plata. Services will be April 14 at the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, La Plata. The Rev. Edward Voorhaar will officiate.