SHAW, Ruth Caroline

SHAW, SELLERS

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 12/29/2006 at 17:24:48

Cherokee Chronicle Times, Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Ruth Caroline Shaw, 93, of Downey, Calif. died Nov. 29, 2006 at her residence.

Services will be on Dec. 19, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at Barker Funeral Home in Holstein with Pastor Ron Johannsen of Galva Methodist Church officiating. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Good Hope Cemetery, Cherokee.

Shaw was born on Oct. 8, 1913 in Pilot Township, Cherokee County. She was the fourth child in a family of 7 siblings. Her parents were Victor Frank and Mary (Sellers) Frank. She enjoyed working on the family farm.

She hatched many a chick and drove the tractor for her father who suffered from several debilitating illnesses. She told many stories about farm life.

Shaw attended a country schoolhouse. She graduated from Wilson High School in Cherokee in 1931. She worked as a housekeeper and factory worker until 1942 when she and an adventurous friend headed to California.

During World War II, she worked for Douglas Aircraft as Ruthie the riveter. Next, She went to work for the city of Compton in the Treasurer's office then as secretary to Compton's Fire Chief. She retired from this position in 1979 after working for the city of Compton for 35 years.

She married Clyde Shaw, battalion chief, in Compton's fire department on March 5, 1949 in Las Vegas. Her married life was a brief six years and ended with Clyde's sudden and unexpected death in 1955.

Shaw was a seasoned traveler, having visited the majority of the United States, the territory of Hawaii, Canada, and Cuba. She took many trips with her nephew, Joel.

Shaw had no children of her own but was actively involved in the lives of several generations of nieces and nephews. She read her Bible every night before bed.

She was an outstanding seamstress. In her later years, as her physical abilities were limited, She cared for many relatives in her retirement years including her Uncle Merrill, her brother, Ralph, and her sister, Doris when they became seriously ill.

She was a member of Baptist churches wherever she lived. She always involved herself in ministry whether it was with the children or working behind the scenes.

Even though she lived the majority of her life in California, she always considered Iowa home and her desire was to be buried there.