SHAW, Richard (1939-2022)

SHAW

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/30/2023 at 14:20:59

Richard Shaw
(July 1, 1939 - September 12, 2022)

Richard “Dick” Shaw passed away peacefully September 12th surrounded by his family at The Village in Indianola at the age of 83. The son of Leslie and Helen Shaw was born July 1st, 1939, in Milford, Nebraska. He married Mary Booth in 1959 and had 4 beautiful children Cary, Anne, Cathy and Cindy. As we all know, life and families can change, and Dick moved to Des Moines where he was a salesman for Sidles auto parts. He met Judy Holmes and her daughter Jody and fell in love. Dick asked Judy to marry him promising to “move south”. They were married on July 26, 1968 and moved “south” to Indianola in 1969. Shortly after daughter Jill came along and he adopted Jody to become one happy family. Once in Indianola, Dick put his mechanical skills to work for Don Clatt at Clatt Garage. After a few short, wonderful years working for Don, Dick went to work for Indianola Community Schools as the bus mechanic. That role took on many hats as back up bus driver, bus seat repairman, and kid shuffle control on the “bus Island”. After his mentor, Walt Butler retired, he stepped into his shoes as Indianola’s Transportation Director. In 1995, Dick retired and filled his spare time teaching bus drivers around the state their continuing education classes. Dick was the second in command of the West 5th Avenue social activities building whatever Judy needed for the many annual neighborhood parties. The neighborhood core: Shaws, Sallees, Smiths, Archibalds, Keebles, Sterns, Evelands and Staffords were all just as much family as friends. These families consisted of the most amazing people who raised each other’s kids and created fantastic memories with everything from Saturday morning coffee, weekend game night (mostly Trivial Pursuit), to the main events like the 4th of July kids parade, pig roast and well organized games like arm chair quarterback, mattress races and the greased zucchini toss. The annual New Year’s Eve party went on well into the a.m. with games, music, dancing and everyone taking turns with the tambourine. Every Christmas Eve we gathered, sang Christmas Carols, and reflected on how good life really was because of our strong, close bond.
After Judy retired, they took on the job of taking care of their granddaughter Jessica before and after her day habilitation program, he continued this very important job after Judy passed in March 2010. Son, husband, father, grandfather, Papa Great, super neighbor, Mr. Fix-it, school bus mechanic, bus driver, educator, and Indianola Transportation Director. This is a short description of things that described Richard “Dick” Shaw. The man who would do anything for others and never expect anything in return.
Dick is survived by his daughters, Anne Hansen, Cathy Soden (Scott), Cindy Allen (Damion), Jody Wadle and Jill (Dave) Ostrander. Grandchildren, Jessica Bingaman, Cory Shaw, Kalen Shaw, Jami (A.J.) Sawyer, Kelsi (Jamie) Matheny, Genevieve Soden, Emile Soden, Ivory Jarman, Demetrius Allen, Marcus Allen, & Jessie Rose Hansen. 5 Great Grandchildren, Rhylee, Kenadi, Wesson, Kayli and Wyatt. Dick is preceded in death by wife Judy, brother Jim, son Cary and his parents. A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, September 22 from 4-7pm at The Sports Page Bar and Grill in Indianola, IA. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to any of these charities in Dick’s name: Children’s Cancer Connection, Iowa Donor Network, Mosaic, COC and Imagine the Possibilities. [This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]