Edwin Osee Shaw, Jr.

Integrity Funeral Service
410 E. Trudgeon Street
Henryetta, OK 74437
(918) 652-6600 Fax (918) 652-6602


Edwin Osee Shaw, Jr., departed this life on Thursday, December 30, 2010 in Moore, Oklahoma awhile surrounded by many loving family members. Ed was 95 years old at the time of his death. He was born in Valliant, Oklahoma on March 28, 1915 to Edwin Osee Shaw, Sr. and Sarah Lilley Hayes Shaw.
Ed graduated from Henryetta High School in Henryetta, Oklahoma and Oklahoma University with a degree in Business Administration. While there he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and later received the "golden owl" honoring 50 years of membership in that organization.
Following graduation he worked for the Oklahoma School Land Commission until enlisting in 1940 in the Oklahoma National Guard 45th Infantry Division. Ed was discharged from the United States Army in 1945. Throughout WWII he served as a Chief Warrant Officer. He served in numerous European campaigns and was decorated with 6 bronze stars and 1 bronze arrowhead. His battalion logged more combat days than any other fighting unit of the war. Ed was a member of a unit that discovered the death train at the concentration camp Dachau and discovered Hitler's personal office and headquarters in Munich, Germany. He led in the investigating and dismantling of this complex and returned home with numerous items from this office, which he discussed and displayed in special programs over the years.
Following the war, Ed and his wife, Vivian located in Oklahoma City. In 1954 he moved his young family to his boyhood hometown of Henryetta. There he established the Shaw Accounting & Tax Service, a very successful business which continues to this day. He also ran the Henryetta Retail Merchants and served as the Henryetta Municipal Judge for 24 years and the Henryetta City Treasurer for 8 years.
Ed was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Henryetta since 1954. During that time he served as a deacon and held numerous other positions. Following the death of his first wife he was remarried to Shelma R. Sowers and was a strong supporter of her church, The First United Methodist Church of Henryetta while continuing to attend his own church. Ed and Shelma served in 36 Lay Witness Renewal weekends, serving as coordinators in many of them . He was also a longtime member of the Henryetta Lions Club.
Ed was well known for his abilities in woodwork. Most all family members and many friends possess a pen and pencil set, which he handcrafted for them.
Ed is survived by his wife Shelma of the home; 4 sons: Tom Shaw and wife Phyllis of Tulsa, OK., Jerry Shaw of Vian, OK., Kent Sowers and wife Lori of Norman, OK., and Alan Sowers and wife Janet of Ft. Smith, AR. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Hayes Allen Shaw and his first wife Vivian Branscome Shaw.
Public visitation will begin at 5pm Saturday and the family will greet friends at the funeral home Sunday from 6 until 8 pm.
Ed's grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 3, 2011 at the First Baptist Church in Henryetta with Rev. Jim Paslay, officiating. Interment will follow at Westlawn Cemetery under direction of Integrity Funeral Service.