William Shaw

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- William Henry "Bill" Shaw, 92, died Aug. 25, 2017.

Born March 10, 1925, in Illmo, son of the late William Henry and Rose Missouri Shaw, he graduated from Illmo High School in 1942. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946, as part of the 240th Field Artillery Battalion, in World War II and was awarded four bronze stars for campaigns in France, Belgium and Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge. He was chosen to represent his unit in the Allied victory march down the Champs Elysees celebrating the liberation of Paris. In 2014 he was presented the Chevalier De La Legion D'Honneur, awarded by the French government in appreciation for his service to France in World War II. In 1949, he graduated from the Rolla School of Mines and Metallurgy with a degree in civil engineering. During his 39-year career with the Missouri Department of Transportation, he served as district engineer in Sikeston and division engineer-construction in Jefferson City, in addition to serving as president of the State Highway Employees Association of Missouri. In 1987 he retired as assistant to the chief engineer. Following retirement he served on the Board of Trustees for MoDOT and Highway Patrol Retirement System as the first retiree representative to the Board and later designated as a Board Member Emeritus.

On Oct. 26, 1946, in Illmo, he married Marta Jo Sitton, who survives of the home.

In addition to his wife, survivors include: three children and their spouses, Paula Rae (Gary) Hudspeth, of Columbia, William Douglas (Suzanne) Shaw of Sikeston and Mark Stephen (Cyndy) Shaw, Edmond, Okla.; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by six sisters, Gussie Shafer, Helen Endrizzi, Mildred Russell, Emma Lea Fremont, Hazel Kitchens, Rose Willetta Beardslee; and one brother, Dr. Robert C. (Mary Ann) Shaw.

Visitation is from 12:30 p.m. until service time at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia, Missouri.

A private inurnment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery.