Thomas Walton Shaw

SHAW - Thomas Walton Shaw, 86, of Alpharetta GA, died December 5, at the home of his son in Alpharetta. He was born in West Haven, Connecticut on June 9, 1924 to Clifford Walton Shaw and Esther Goode Shaw. In addition to both parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Barnes Shaw, a daughter, Mary Alice Obstler, and a sister, Alice Shaw Melancon. Surviving him are his wife, Ruth Lee Shaw of Alpharetta, Ga., two sons, Walton Shaw of Martinsville, Va. and Michael Shaw (Pattie) of Alpharetta, one daughter Sara Walker of Martinsville, one step-son, Kenneth Nida (Susan) of West Palm Beach, Florida, three step-daughters, Karen Stromick (Joe) of Uniontown, Pa., Bonnie McKinney (Jerry) of Durham, N.C., Cille McKenzie in Jamestown, N.C. Also surviving are a sister, Barbara Akers of Bassett, Va., 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He was a 1942 graduate of Bassett High School in Virginia. He attended Bluefield Junior College, University of Richmond and TC Williams School of Law. He worked in Management for DuPont and Pannill Knitting Co. before retiring and moving to Greenville NC. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and Disabled Veterans of America. He was active as a leader in many civic organizations in Martinsville and Henry County Virginia, including the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Elks Club, Rotary and others. He coached youth basketball and baseball in Martinsville and was a leader in the American Legion baseball program in Greenville, NC. He was inducted into the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. He was a lifelong avid sportsman and outdoorsman. He was a highly decorated veteran of WWII as a member of the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One). He received a field commission as Second Lieutenant following the Normandy Campaign. He was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action, two Bronze Stars for Heroism and two Purple Hearts. He was involved in combat action in North Africa and Italy before landing on Omaha Beach in the first wave of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. He then fought across France, Belgium, Germany and Czechoslovakia and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. One of his last actions of the war was participation in the liberation of a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia near the time of the Germany surrender. A memorial service will be held at Northside Chapel in Roswell, Ga. on December 9, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends at a viewing on December 8 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Northside Chapel. Burial with military rites will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. at a later date to be determined. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Northside Chapel Funeral Directors, Roswell, GA, 770/645-1414.

Thomas Walton Shaw

June 9, 1924 - December 5, 2010