Obituary: Shaw, Wilson W.
SHAW,
Wilson W., Jr.
Was born on February 2, 1924 in Jamestown, NY to Marion and Wilson Shaw, Sr.
He attended Ohio Wesleyan University in the V-12 program, serving in the Navy in the Pacific during WWII as a lieutenant.
He graduated medical school from the University of Buffalo on the GI bill.
He served residency at Beverly Hospital in Beverly, MA.
His surgical residency was at the Meyer Memorial Hospital in Buffalo, NY.
He met his future wife, Shirley Schoenfeld, while working as a garbage man in Chautauqua, NY.
They married in 1949 and were married for over 62 years at the time of his passing.
He and Shirley raised five wonderful daughters, Susan, Hannah, Carrie, Rebecca, and Molly, of whom he was very proud.
Will began his surgical career in Jamestown.
He volunteered to go to Vietnam.
He served in Da Nang at a provincial hospital.
He brought back many of the skills he learned in Vietnam to help develop a county wide emergency service response program.
After moving to Spokane in 1979, Will worked for the Veteran’s Administration after a successful career in Jamestown, NY.
He retired as the Chief of Surgery from the VA.
In retirement, Will pursued many additional interests including learning to play the cello, fly tying, bonsai and lots of skiing and fishing.
He loved sailing and taught his daughters how to crew.
He was also a potter and tried to teach his girls to throw.
Although none of them caught on, they all enjoyed the ceramic bowls he gave as gifts.
After moving to Spokane, he continued to go back to his friend’s hunting camp in Pennsylvania in the fall.
Will was active in community theater, both in the Jamestown Little Theater, the Spokane Rogue Players and Spokane Civic Theater, playing a variety of lead roles.
His favorite role was as King Henry II in “The Lion in Winter” while living in Jamestown.
He was active in the Inland Empire MG Classics Club and restored a 1959 MGA.
He loved fly fishing and was a member of the Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club and the Spokane Fly Fishers.
He was a life long swimmer and skier.
He finally hung up his skis at age 86 after membership in both the Prime Timers ski club and the 80+ ski club.
Will and Shirley spent many a fine weekend in their small red trailer fishing in Washington, Idaho and Montana.
Will loved his wife, children, grandchildren, neighbors and his country.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Margaret.
He is survived by his wife Shirley, daughters Susan (Rick) Turnquist, Hannah (Joel) Szymczak, Carrie (Kenyon) Fields, Rebecca (Mike Tones) Shaw, and Molly Shaw; grandchildren Brian, Matthew, Katherine, Nicole, Jacob, Emily and Anne.
Creamation has taken place.
Inurnment will be at the Sunset Hills Memorial Gardens in Jamestown, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.
Services will be held at the HAZEN AND JAEGER FUNERAL HOME at 1306 North Monroe at 1 pm on Saturday, June 2.
Reception to follow in the hall at Hazen and Jaeger.