Earl L. Shaw Jr.

Earl L. Shaw, Jr., a Winter Park resident for 57 years, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2020 at the age of 94. The oldest of four children, Earl was born to Earl Sr. and Lucille Shaw on April 23, 1926 in the small town of Jewell Ridge, Virginia. He graduated from Bluefield High School where he was an outstanding student and football player.

At age 17, Earl entered the US Navy and served on the USS Seadragon submarine for almost two years during WWII. He fought in the famous Battle of Leyte Gulf, considered to be the largest naval battle of WWII. During the time he served on this decorated submarine it torpedoed a Japanese aircraft carrier, a cruiser and three other Japanese ships and its captain received the Navy cross. Earl's experience and stories of the war were fascinating to hear. So much so, that He shared his story numerous times on a Central Florida radio station while in his 90s.

After the war, Earl entered Virginia Tech and earned a degree in electrical engineering. During post graduate studies at Virginia Tech, he met Jean Hampton at a dance and they married in 1952.

He began his career with the Appalachian Power Company in their Hydro Electric Plants and later worked in their division engineering office. He lived in Byllesby, VA for a few years. Then, with his brothers' help, he built his first home in Bluefield, Va. In 1963, the family moved to Winter Park, FL for Earl to work for Dow Chemical Company, a NASA contractor, as a lead engineer at the Kennedy Space Center for the Saturn/Apollo Program manned lunar missions. The four children recall vividly the evening of July 20, 1969. Huddled together in front of the TV, they watched Neil Armstrong step on the moon, proud that their father worked as an engineer on that mission and others like it. When the Saturn/Apollo program phased out, Earl moved on to a career at Walt Disney World and later retired from there as the Manager of Energy Systems.

Earl had many interests and hobbies throughout his life. Among them were Lion's Club, President of PTA, Scoutmaster, Little League coach, Central Florida Genealogy Society, Civil War Roundtable, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and US Submarine Veterans of WWII. He was an antique tool collector and master woodworker and left a wonderful legacy of fine furniture that he made for his children and grandchildren. New Smyrna Beach was his favorite family vacation and get away spot. Another favorite pastime was researching his family genealogy. He attended Aloma United Methodist Church in Winter Park. He had a strong faith and at the end of his life longed to go to his Heavenly Home.

Above all, Earl was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. Both Earl and Jean were happiest when they were with their family. Jean was a wonderful mother and grandmother. We are all very blessed to have had both of them in our lives.

Earl was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Jean Hampton Shaw, brother George of Radford Virginia and grandson David R. Shaw.

He is survived by four children, Dana Price of Winter Park, David Shaw (Lisa) of Winter Park, Doug Shaw (Sally) of Belle Isle, and Rodney Shaw of Oviedo; ten grandchildren David Price, Deanna Price Filiault (Matt), Whitney Shaw Morris, Madeline Shaw, Philip Shaw (Meredith), Eric Shaw, Rodney Shaw Jr., Caroline Shaw, Claudia Shaw and Michael Shaw; four great grandchildren Keely Morris, Kai Morris, Marion Shaw and Sylvia Filiault; sister Sally Maness of Yorktown VA; brothers Donnie Shaw of Christiansburg, VA and Johnnie Shaw (Lorraine) of Clayton, NC.

Private services will be held by the family. Memorial contributions can be made in Earl's memory to the Orlando chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a wonderful ministry that builds beds for underprivileged kids that don't have a bed to sleep in. https://www.shpbeds.org/chapter/fl-orlando-w.

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