Private First Class Shumate was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Pongam-ni, South Korea on 13 August 1950.

Shumate was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.