James A. Shaw

Captain James A. Shaw, 73, Westerville, Ohio USN (Retired) passed away Sunday, July 12, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. Jim was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on March 2, 1942, to Stuart A. and Hazel I (Jackson) Shaw and attended Terre Haute public schools, graduating from Gerstmeyer High School class of 1960 and Indiana State University 1964. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Kay W. Shaw.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 50 years, Roberta (Welch) Shaw; daughter, Jessica (Lee Arbuckle) Shaw; son, Andrew Shaw and his grandchildren Brodie and Lilyana Shaw; his sister Lola (Scott Roberts) Drake; his brother Steve (Judy) Shaw; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

He served on active duty in the US Navy as a pilot for five years during the Vietnam era. His squadron provided anti-submarine and anti-ship patrols to the carrier battle group on the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea flying the S-2F Grumman "Tracker" aircraft affectionately known to its crews as the "Stoof," its pilots as the "Stoof Drivers." He made 124 arrested landings on five different aircraft carriers.

Upon his release from active duty, he continued to fly the S-2F and later the Lockheed P-3 "Orion" in the Naval Air Reserve retiring as a Captain after 27 years of service.

At the time of his passing, he was the Commanding Officer of the Columbus, Ohio Association of Naval Aviation (ANA) "Helldiver" Squadron, a member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Columbus Chapter and Department 868 of Retired North American Aviation and Rockwell International Employees Monthly Lunch Group.

He retired from Rockwell International Corporation having also been employed by the McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC).

Family and friends will gather on Sunday, July 19, 2015 from 2-5PM at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3047 East Dublin-Granville Road, Columbus, Ohio. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, July 20, 2015, 11:00 AM with visitation 1 hr. prior to the service at Newcomer Funeral Home. American Legion Post 171 will provide full military honors at Northlawn Memory Gardens, 7060 State Route 3, Westerville, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to MOAA, LCDR Nancy Rey, USN, 500 Tyler Station Drive, Johnstown, Ohio 43031.





Jim was not what would probably be described as a "religious" person. And while he might not have called himself that, his correspondence over the past few months made it clear to me that he was indeed a believer, and a person of faith.

His comments in the last email received from him were very positive and upbeat. He did not fear what he surely knew was ahead, and was totally comfortable in that knowledge.

There is a song we have all heard many times and in many different contexts, and I think it is very appropriate now. We're all familiar with it and have heard it many times and on many different occasions. I think it is still one of the most powerful pieces of music ever written, played and heard.

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see."

A more recent version of the same song adds a refrain, which goes on to say,
"My chains are gone, I've been set free.
My God, my Savior has rescued me.
And like a flood, His mercy rains,
Amazing grace, unending love."

Jim knew exactly where he was headed, and I found the closing thought is his last email among the most poignant I have ever heard:

It was simply "Climbing to altitude". Your friend, Jim