Passages

Corvallis Gazette-Times
June 17, 2007

Francis H. Shaw, 1920-2007

Frank Shaw died at his home Monday, May 28, 2007, after a brief illness. Frank passed peacefully and was surrounded by his family.

Frank was a man of remarkable intellect, uncompromising principals and profound social conscience. Frank Shaw was born in the city of Cardington, Morrow County, Ohio, to Mervin Burr Shaw and Myrtle E. Hartsock, the youngest of their 12 children. In 1926 his family headed west in an old converted flatbed truck and ended up living in an uncle's garage in North Hollywood, Calif. Frank's family soon moved into a nearby home and lived there until 1939 when Frank graduated from North Hollywood High School.

Frank entered the Army in 1940 and served in both the Army and the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Upon completion of his military service, Frank moved to Portland to attend Reed College. Frank often worked during the summer to earn money for the next years' college. Among other jobs, Frank dug ditches, manned the production line at the Underwood Deviled Ham factory and was a bellboy at the Crater Lake Lodge. Frank earned his bachelor's degree in history from Reed College in 1950. He also attended UCLA earning his master's as well as Harvard University where he attained his Ph.D.

Frank taught high school briefly, but soon moved to Corvallis to begin a 30-year career as a professor of history at Oregon State University. A dedication to the Civil Rights movement and the struggle of Black Americans for equality was a lifelong obsession. Frank was passionate about education and spent the bulk of his life teaching in one form or another, even reading to young student at local schools in his later years.

In 1956 Frank Shaw and Roberta Chatfield were married. In 1959 they adopted their only child, Philip. Frank was very active within the community and devoted thousands of hours of his time volunteering for numerous organizations, most notably the ACLU, NAACP, Friends of the Library, the Democratic Party and Community Outreach. Frank also served on the City Council for several years.

Upon retirement in 1984 Frank spent a bulk of his time reading, traveling and serving the community. Roberta Shaw died in 1992. Frank later met Joan Floyd and the two became an item very quickly. Frank and Joan "Jo" were married in November of 1993 and lived happily for the remainder of his life. Frank was devoted to his wife, Jo; her children, and three grandchildren. Frank was especially fond of Dudley, their beloved Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Frank is survived by his wife, Jo Shaw; his son, Philip; Jo's daughter, Jill Carroll, and son, Mark Floyd and his wife, Dixie; as well as grandchildren, Annie, Kevin and Kirby.

And by two nieces, including me.