Willard Shaw

Willard Homer Shaw

November-16-1927 - January-03-2017

Share Your Memory of
Willard

Obituary of Willard Homer Shaw

Shaw, Willard Homer After a long life of family, business, community leadership and public service, Willard Homer Shaw passed away at Perth on January 3, 2017 in his 90th year. Born November 16, 1927 at Perth, Willard is survived by two sons, Ronald Willard (Love) of Drummond Township and Ralph Henry (Debbie) of Carleton Place; eight grandchildren, Stefan Ronald (Celina) of Ottawa, Marc Tumenta of Drummond, Lysanne 'Tito' Beri of Drummond, Erin Elizabeth of Calgary, Graham Allister of Carleton Place, Andrew of Thunder Bay, Jerimiah of Thunder Bay and Daniel of Tirana, Albania; two step-grandchildren, Tiffany (Steve) Nixon of Carleton Place and Troy Latham of Carleton Place; one great-grandchild, Abigail Heather of Ottawa; and one step great-grandchild Ryan Nixon of Carleton Place. He is also survived by one brother, Douglas James, of Drummond Township. He was predeceased in 2001 by his wife of 53 years, Vivian H.J. Greenley, by his son Richard Gibson (Anila) in 2015 and by his sister Audrey Kathleen Forsythe in 1936. Willard grew up on his father's farm at Drummond Center and attended S.S.#13 Drummond and the Perth Collegiate Institute. From 1943 to 1948 he farmed with his father and from 1948 to 1956 farmed his own land on Drummond Concession-7. He was an active Junior Farmer in the 1940s, helped organize a Drummond Township branch of the Ontario Farmers' Union in the 1950s and in the 1980s-90s was a member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. In the 1940s Willard was Secretary Treasurer of the Drummond Center Community Club. For several seasons in the 1940s-50s he played infield or as catcher for the Drummond Center Softball Club and two seasons of baseball (relief pitcher), one season for Innisville and another for North Drummond. In 1945, at age 17, Willard was treasurer of the Drummond Center Cheese Factory and from 1960 to 1972 was Secretary Treasurer of the Balderson Cheese and Butter Association (Balderson Cheese Factory). While continuing to farm part-time (breeding a herd of purebred polled Herfords), Willard began work in 1957 as a book keeper at the Lanark Mutual Insurance Company of Perth, retiring 35 years later as Company Manager. During his years as an insurance executive he also represented Eastern Ontario on the Ontario Reinsurance Plan (1966-1979) and was elected to two terms as Plan President. Willard Shaw was elected as a Drummond Township Councilor (1973-78), Deputy Reeve (1979-82) and Reeve (1983-91). In 1988 he served a term as Warden of Lanark County. Willard was an active and life-long member of the United Church of Canada, attending Drummond Center United Church ('The White Church') on Concession-8 of Drummond until it was amalgamated with St. Paul's United Church in Perth in 1951. He was an Elder at St. Paul's for two decades, Clerk of Session for three years, taught Sunday School for 20 years and served for a number of years as Sunday School Superintendent. The Drummond Center Community Cemetery was also a life-long commitment; he served as a Director from the early 1950s until his death and as Secretary Treasurer from 1958 through 2001. In 1967 Willard Shaw was honored with the Centennial Medal for public service to the Township of Drummond. He served on the Board of Directors of the Great War Memorial Hospital (Perth) from 1973 to 1991, including two years as President. He was also a Director of the GWM Hospital Foundation from the mid-1980s through 1998. In 1994 Willard was invited to join the Kiwanis Club of Perth where he filled the posts of Vice President (1995-96), President (1996-97) and Secretary (1998-2000). From 1946 Willard was a life-long member of the Orange Lodge (LOL # 7) at Drummond Center serving as Secretary, Treasurer and Master. He also held office as County Master and as Secretary, Treasurer and Master at the District level. He was the auditor of the Grand Lodge of Eastern Ontario for 10 years and from 2002 served as Secretary of the Perth branch (LOL # 115). In a life of business, farming and public service Willard found little free time for recreation, except for the annual white tail deer hunt. In 1944, at age 14, he was a founding member of 'The Pop Gun Gang' (so named for their lack of fire-power) which evolved into today's 'Fiddle Bow Hunt Club'. Over the subsequent 67 seasons he only failed to hunt the Drummond woods in 1948 (while on his honeymoon) and 1956 (while working briefly at Dyno Mines). He also loved draft horses and his teams pulled many a parade float, boy scout sleigh ride or bride and groom on the first leg of their marriage trip. Friends may pay their respects at the Blair & Son Funeral Home, 15 Gore St. West, Perth on Thursday, January 5th, 2017 from 3:00 to 5:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Funeral service will be held in St. Paul’s United Church, Perth on Friday at 10:30 A.M. Interment Drummond Centre Cemetery. In remembrance of Willard, contributions to the Great War Memorial Hospital Foundation or St. Pauls United Church would be appreciated

First Visitation

When Thursday, January 5th, 2017 3:00pm - 5:00pm Location Blair & Son - Perth Chapel Address 15 Gore St W, Perth, ON K7H 3C7 Location Information Plentiful parking at the rear of the facility

Second Visitation

When Thursday, January 5th, 2017 6:00pm - 8:00pm Location Blair & Son - Perth Chapel Address 15 Gore St W, Perth, ON K7H 3C7 Location Information Plentiful parking at the rear of the facility

Service Information

When Friday, January 6th, 2017 10:30am Officiating Rev. Shelley Roberts Location St. Paul's United Church Address 25 Gore St. W. Perth, ON K7H 2L9