Wendell Ellsworth Shawn Jr.

Born in Easton, Maryland on December 15, 1923, Jack was the son of an Eastern Shore farmer and along with his two sisters, attended school on the Eastern Shore while also helping with the farm. Upon graduating from Centerville High School, he received an award for perfect attendance for the past 12 years, which included elementary and high school. He attended Salisbury State Teachers College and later graduated from the University of Maryland in 1943 before joining the Army.

He served in both World War II and the Korean War and earned several field promotions, two Bronze Stars, Combat Infantry Badge as well as Campaign, Conduct and War Victory medals. At the end of World War II Jack returned home and married Betty Lou Reid, also a graduate of University of Maryland, and raised four sons during their 62 years of marriage.

Jack and Betty moved to Northern Virginia in the early 1950’s first living in the neighborhood of Hollin Hall and then settling in Stratford Landing from 1964 to 2011. Jack was the first to sign the charter establishing Aldersgate Methodist Church in 1956 and was a devout layperson and attendee of the Church. Jack and Betty were two of the original 20 members who would organize the first church services in a Hollin Hall Elementary classroom until Founders Hall was constructed. He helped organize the blessing ceremony of the Sanctuary steeple in 1961 with Reverend James Duley, one of Jack’s lifelong friends.

Jack gave back to the community any chance he could through his work with the church, organizing areas blood drives, volunteering at the Mt. Vernon Genealogical Society and participating in Fort Hunt sports and activities. Jack worked for the Small Business Administration, Department of Labor and managed Human Resource Departments at Doctors Hospital, Fairfax Hospital and Mount Vernon Hospital. He retired from the Army Reserves in 1977 at the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Jack Shawn was a loving, caring father, husband, grandfather, and great grandfather and is survived by his sons, Richard, Terry, Doug, and Kelly, their wives, children and grandchildren. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery along side Betty on March 31, 2025, at 9am. For more information contact Demaine’s Funeral Home.