William Reed Shaw

Born and raised in Glendale, AZ, Bill was the youngest of four boys.

Bill graduated from Glendale High School in 1949 where he lettered in Track and Field. Bill attended Phoenix College and then attended Arizona State University where he received his Master of Arts in Education.

A U.S. Army veteran, Bill proudly served his country in the Army and was stationed in Germany. He enjoyed traveling on leave with his friend Gregg Dudley and, as an amateur photographer, Bill took many pictures in Germany and all over Europe.

While helping to set up a Teen Canteen, he met the love of his life, Geraldine “Geri” Shaw. They were married on February 7th, 1959, in Phoenix, AZ and celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in 2015 shortly before Geri’s death. They moved to Yuma in 1960 when Bill accepted a job teaching at Kofa High School.

Bill taught Architectural Drafting at Kofa High School until he retired. He was very active in the American Industrial Arts Student Association (AIASA) which is now known as The Technology Student Association (TSA). Bill loved teaching. He worked as a tutor in college and found he really enjoyed that moment when a student finally understood a concept they had been struggling with. He showed his love for teaching in his willingness to help his students by coming in to school early and staying late to assist any students who needed extra help. It was difficult to fail Mr. Shaw’s class according to one of his students who stated that he had to work very hard to fail as Mr. Shaw kept offering to help him.

Bill was a staunch supporter of his family and their pursuits. He showed up for every event his wife and daughters were involved in. He never missed a Kofa High football game for the four years his oldest daughter was in the Varsity marching band. When he couldn’t attend the KHS “away games”, he listened to them on the radio. He went to every swim meet while his youngest daughter was on the KHS swim team. He attended bake sales, rummage sales, car washes, etc. for the clubs his daughters belonged to. He packed up his family every summer for 5 years to live at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ so his wife, Geri, could get her Bachelor’s degree in Education. Bill encouraged Geri and was her cheerleader as she obtained her degree and embarked on her career as a teacher.

Bill and Geri owned and operated Yuma Teaching Supplies from 1980 to 2004. They were also avid doll historians, collectors and restorers of dolls. He and Geri were members of The Yuma Doll Club and the 11 ½ inch Doll Club of Yuma.

They enjoyed going to Prescott, AZ and visiting their friends Dick and Evelyn Stephens. The four of them would go to yard sales, antique stores and swap meets.

Bill is survived by his daughters, Cynthia (Jeffrey) Ray and Mary Shaw; grandson David (Cass) McGinness; great-granddaughter Olivia McGinness, whom he was thrilled to share a birthday with and brother-in-law Tennes (Janet) Rosengren.

Bill was predeceased in death by his wife, Geri Shaw, of 56 years, and his brothers, Clay, Melvin and Byron Shaw.

There will be no funeral services. Bill is interred at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in Yuma, AZ.